Fitzpatrick calls for additional funding to be provided to Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT)

Fine Gael TD for Louth, Peter Fitzpatrick, has said that additional funding needs to be provided to Dundalk Institute of Technology, as a matter of urgency.

“As part of the 2016 Revised Estimates for the Department of Education and Skills, the third level sector is to get over €1.4 billion, with over €900 million funding for Universities, Institutes of Technology and other Higher Education institutions. A further €407 million has been reserved for student support and almost €40 million for research activities.

“While I welcome this funding, I fear that it is not enough. I have in the past week met with the President of Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), Anne Campbell, who outlined to me in great detail the challenges they face as a result of reduced funding.

“I would urge the Minister to examine the funding again, with a view to providing increased funding to 3rd level institutions, particularly the DkIT. As the only Institute of Technology in the North East of the country DkIT provides a very important service to the students of the area, especially those students based in County Louth.

“Education is essential for our nation to thrive and gives everybody an opportunity to further their career prospects. For 2016, 17% of all Government current expenditure will be spent on education.
“I would particularly like to welcome the fact that Minister Bruton has announced an additional 860 posts for this coming September, which will bring the total number of SNAs to 12,900, an increase of over 22% since 2011.

“It is also important to point out the many positive educational developments taking place in Louth, where we are starting to see the benefits of the continuing economic improvement. In Dundalk, the Marist College has recently opened a brand new school, which is an absolute credit to them, while approval has been granted for much-needed new extensions to Realt Na Meara and Dun Dealgan National School.

“We need to continue putting the benefits of our economic success to work for the people of Louth, so that we can help deliver the education system that this county deserves.”