This week we had the historic incorporation of St. Angela's, Clogherevagh, into Atlantic Technological University, ATU. This was a most special occasion for the Ursuline Sisters, who founded the college back in 1952 and who championed third level education for women in very different times such that now St. Angela's, as part of ATU, can continue to provide the highest levels of academic excellence for its students.

However, further substantial resources are needed to make up for the historic shortfall in capital funding to all of the colleges in ATU. Figures from the Northern and Western Regional Assembly show that between 2012 and 2022, higher education institutes in the region received 28% less capital funding per undergraduate than the national average. The Minister knows this region well and this 28% shortfall in funding is unacceptable. I ask the Minister to see what can be done to reverse this as a matter of urgency.

I will refer this to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris. I join the Deputy in congratulating St. Angela's College in becoming part of Atlantic Technological University. That is due recognition of the wonderful legacy of St. Angela's College over the years and of the work the Ursuline Sisters have done in establishing the college and bringing it where it is today. It has a strong future within the ATU structure. ATU has done tremendous work across the region, from Letterkenny to Galway and across the region. It is important that the colleges are appropriately funded and that is something the Minister has been working to ensure is the case. I will pass on the Deputy’s representations.