Technological Universities Bill
Deputy McLoughlin asked when Committee Stage of the Technological Universities Bill would resume. The Minister said it would be restored, with outstanding issues being worked through, and hoped to proceed by the end of the session.
To allow institutes of technology, such as IT Sligo, to merge into new technological universities and obtain the benefits this would bring, can we expect Committee Stage of the Technological Universities Bill to be taken shortly?
Comment on this
The Technological Universities Bill will be restored to Committee Stage. Obviously, issues were raised in the course of Committee Stage that was debated in the last Dáil. We are seeking to work out some of those issues relating to industrial relations and partnerships of colleges so that when we come to Committee Stage it will be easier to progress the Bill.
Work is being done to make sure we can progress that Bill. It is very much our intention to proceed with it. We hope it will be ready towards the end of this session.