Brendan Smith on Letterkenny-Derry partnership and TU bid
Brendan Smith highlighted the importance of the Letterkenny Institute and Derry collaboration, stressing implementation and continued cross-border cooperation. He supported further education's role in regional development, asked about industry promotion agencies' involvement, and queried the timetable for the Connacht Ulster Technological University application.
Partnership and regional visit
Brendan Smith recalled a committee visit to McGee and Letterkenny Institute and described the work of the North West Partnership. He said local authorities and the institutes had a memorandum of understanding and were implementing programmes together - producing real synergy rather than just plans.
Role of further education
He welcomed comments about further education and noted the regional colleges were established to lead economic development. Further education was described as important to meet local economy needs and to support areas with potential to create jobs.
Connacht Ulster Alliance and Technological University application
Brendan Smith set out the proposed Connacht Ulster Alliance and the Technological University involving Gollamio Institute, Sligo IT and Letterkenny IT. He noted Paul had said an application would be submitted in January and asked when decisions on such TU applications would be expected, warning of new demands and the need not to lose existing cross-border momentum between Letterkenny and Derry.
Cross-border agencies and Shared Island funding
He asked whether industry promotion agencies north and south of the border were integral to the background work and programme preparation. He welcomed the Shared Island initiative of Antísoc and the Government and said the initiative, with additional funding, offered an opportunity to build on the Good Friday Agreement approach to education and health.
Complementarity, not competition
Echoing a concern raised by another deputy, Brendan Smith urged that universities and institutes of technology should develop complementary programmes rather than compete for students. He described the Letterkenny and Derry partnership as successful, determined and worth consolidating, and he wished the partners well in their continued work.
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Thank you very much. First, I am delighted that our colleague, Senator Niall Blaney, suggested that you make this presentation. As Neil, in his introductory remarks, he outlined the importance of Letterkenny Institute and Derry to the wider North West. I remember during the course of the last Dáil, we had a committee visit to McGee and also to Letterkenny Institute. It was very enlightening and it demonstrated to us very clearly the importance of both McGee and Letterkenny Institute. for the broader economy as well. I think it was very much underpinned by the North West Partnership, where the local authorities worked very much together. At that time, we would have met Seamus Needy, the then Donegal County manager and his counterpart from Derry as well. It was clear that not alone had they a memorandum of understanding, but that they were implementing programmes together, which was very important. We can have strategies and we can have plans, but if there is not implementation, then we will go nowhere. It was the opposite there. Things were happening. By collaboration and collaboration. There was a great synergy between both local authorities and similarly between Letterkenny Institute and McGee as well. That is very heartening. Just one thing, I am delighted that Paul mentioned about the further education. That is very much involved in this partnership as well. As we know, the regional colleges were established to try to lead in necessary economic development in the regions. At that time, the further education colleges were developed then. To meet the needs of the local economy and areas that were growing with potential to create jobs. The further education is very important that that is maintained. Could I just ask, are the industry promotion agencies both north and south of the border, are they an integral part of your work and your thinking and the background work you do in preparing programmes and that? With regard to that, the education architecture is set out in regard to Connacht Ulster, with the proposed Connacht Ulster Alliance and the Technological University, where you have Gollamio Institute, Sligo IT and Letterkenny IT. Paul told us you will be putting in the application in January. When are decisions expected in relation to the success or otherwise of such TU applications? And also, you would have new demands and new challenges when that alliance is put in place. I would be very conscious that we would not lose the impetus that there has been between Letterkenny and Derry to ensure that that is not sidetracked and that the emphasis would go on consolidating the new educational architecture between Gollamio Institute, Sligo IT and Letterkenny. So, I would hope that the parallel consolidation and further development of the Letterkenny and Derry is a very, very important framework, that that has continued. I think it is absolutely essential. Of course, we all warmly welcome the Shared Island initiative of Antísoc and the Government. As we know, education and health were two of the sectors identified in the Good Friday Agreement for developing an all Ireland base as well. What you have been doing is actually putting in practice what was laid out and what was provided in the overall thinking behind the Good Friday Agreement. And now is the opportunity to build on that with specific funding, additional funding being provided through the Shared Island initiative. I think, as Deputy McLaughlin mentioned, we do not want universities and institutes of technology competing for places, competing for students. It is absolutely essential in further development of new programmes in colleges that are complementary and not competing with their neighbours or elsewhere, be it north or south. So, again, I had the opportunity in Letterkenny and Derry to see firsthand the important work that was ongoing, the success of it and the determination as well on both sides to make it succeed. I wish you well in your continued work. Thank you.
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