Technological Universities in Ireland

A Technological University is a designation of a type of third-level institution in Ireland. The potential for such universities was established through legislation in 2018. ^[1] Since then, twelve of Ireland's fourteen institutes of technology have merged to create five technological universities:

• Technological University Dublin was established in January 2019 as the result of a merger of the three Institutes of Technology in the County Dublin area. ^{[2] [3]} Its foundation was announced in July 2018. ^[2]
• Munster Technological University was established in January 2021 following the merger of IT Tralee and Cork IT. ^{[4] [5]} A formal application for the TU for the south west, comprising Cork IT and IT Tralee, was lodged in February 2019, ^[6] but it was initially unsuccessful. ^[7] A second, successful, application was made in 2020. ^[8]
• The Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest ^[9] was formed from a merger of Athlone IT and Limerick IT. It was announced in October 2019 forming a TU for the mid-west and midlands regions, centred on the River Shannon. ^{[10] [11]} Athlone IT had investigated the possibility of becoming a university in its own right. ^[12] A formal application for TU status was made by the consortium in November 2020, with approval granted in May 2021. ^{[13] [14]} It opened in October 2021, with campuses distributed amongst Limerick City, Athlone, Clonmel, Ennis, and Thurles. ^[15]
• Atlantic Technological University was formed following the merger of Galway-Mayo IT (GMIT) and IT Sligo, both in Connacht in the west of Ireland, with Letterkenny IT (LYIT), located in the north of Ireland. ^{[16] [17]} The Connacht-Ulster Alliance (CUA) submitted a formal application to the Department of Further and Higher Education in May 2021. ^[18] Formal approval was granted by Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, in October 2021, ^[19] with a launch date in early 2022.
• South East Technological University is the merger of IT Carlow and Waterford IT. ^{[20] [21]} A vision document was published in 2015, and a memorandum of understanding was signed in 2017. ^[22] At the launch of TU Dublin in July 2018, the Taoiseach expressed regret that this TUSE bid had not progressed sufficiently following the "Technological Universities Act 2018". ^{[2] [23]} Staff of IT Carlow, rejected the current plan for the TU in June 2019. ^[24] A formal application was made in May 2021, ^{[25] [26]} and it was formally established in May 2022. ^[27]

Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) initially investigated the possibility of becoming a TU in its own right, ^[28] before later considering a merger with an existing TU. ^{[29] [30] [31]} In November 2025, DkIT announced its intention to become a university college of Queen's University Belfast from 2026, ^[32] which would leave Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology as the sole remaining independent Institute of Technology.

References

1. "Technological Universities". Higher Education Authority. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
2. "Announcement by An Taoiseach". Dublin Institute of Technology. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018– via facebook.com.
3. "Application for designation as Ireland's first Technological University has been successful!". Dublin Institute of Technology. 17 July 2018. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 17 July 2018– via facebook.com.
4. Burke, Elaine (18 January 2021). "Munster Technological University to lead €7m project to monitor air pollution". Silicon Republic .
5. Casey, Jess (2020-05-26). "New technological university for Munster this week as greenlight expected for IT merger". IrishExaminer.ie . Archived from the original on 2020-05-26. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
6. "CIT and IT Tralee apply to become Munster Technological University". IrishExaminer.com . 13 February 2019. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019.
7. O'Brien, Carl (23 July 2019). "Munster technological university bid fails to get green light". IrishTimes.com . Retrieved 14 January 2020.
8. O'Brien, Carl (7 October 2019). "Cork IT will not have to take on IT Tralee debt if merged, Minister pledge" . The Irish Times . Retrieved 23 October 2019.
9. "Welcome to Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest". TUS.ie. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
10. "Limerick and Athlone ITs to form Technological University". RTÉ.ie . 15 October 2019. Archived from the original on 17 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
11. "LIT and AIT want to join up to create a River Shannon-linked technological university". TheJournal.ie . 15 October 2019. Archived from the original on 15 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
12. "AIT remains committed to Technological University status". Athlone Advertiser . 10 May 2018. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018.
13. Collins, Niall (23 February 2021). response to committee question (Speech). Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science debate - Tuesday, 23 Feb 2021. Oireachtas.ie . Leinster House (remote meeting): Houses of the Oireachtas.
14. "Limerick IT and Athlone IT to merge to form new technological university". Irish Independent . Retrieved 2021-05-05.
15. "BREAKING: Name of Limerick's new University confirmed". Limerick's Live 95.
16. "Funding announced for LYIT's Killybegs campus". HighlandRadio.com . 11 August 2019. Archived from the original on 11 August 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
17. Kelly, Briain (28 April 2019). "GMIT launches €60 million five-year strategic plan". Galway Daily. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
18. Simon Harris TD [@SimonHarrisTD] (21 May 2021). "Massive & historic day for the west and north west of our country with an application being submitted to me to create a new Technological University for the west and north west to our country. Great news & a huge amount of work by many to get here" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 May 2021– via Twitter.
19. "Minister Harris announces Technological University for the West and North West". gov.ie. Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
20. "Technological University for the South East". Waterford IT. 31 May 2013. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
21. "South East Technological University moves Closer to Becoming a Reality". Waterford IT. 3 October 2013. Archived from the original on 17 December 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
22. "Timeline". Technological University for the South East. 2018. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
23. "Technological Universities Act 2018". Office of the Attorney General. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
24. Dalton, Eoghan; O'Brien, Carl (21 June 2019). "Plan to create technological university for southeast hits setback". IrishTimes.com . Retrieved 23 October 2019.
25. "Application for TUSE lodged". Munster Express . 4 May 2021.
26. "Minister Harris reaffirms commitment to deliver Technological University for the South East as new regional advisory group meets". Gov.ie . Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
27. "A new era for the south east of Ireland". South East Technological University. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
28. Wall, Martin (15 November 2019). "Strike at Dundalk Institute of Technology called off" . The Irish Times . Retrieved 2 July 2021.
29. Ryan, Olivia (1 May 2021). "DkIT outline vision to achieve Technological University status". Independent.ie . Retrieved 2 July 2021.
30. Donnelly, Katherine (25 May 2022). "Dundalk IT looks west to Atlantic TU link-up". Independent.ie . Retrieved 26 May 2022.
31. Roddy, Margaret (3 May 2022). "Minister Simon Harris fully committed to delivering university status for DkIT". The Argus – via Independent.ie.
32. "Queen's University Belfast and Dundalk Institute of Technology announce major partnership to establish University College in Dundalk | DkIT". www.dkit.ie. 2025-11-19. Retrieved 2025-11-21.

External links

• Council of Directors of Institutes of Technology