MTU to get campus funding

MUNSTER Technological University (MTU) is among six regional campuses across Ireland to be awarded funding under new €4.5m Distributed Campus Support Fund.

The new Distributed Campus Support Fund has been established to support higher education institutions (HEIs) with multiple campuses in regional areas.

Under the fund, MTU will receive €230,000 to cover additional fixed costs inclusive of the delivery of core campus services including reception facilities, security, maintenance, student support and counselling services, library facilities and travel costs between campuses.

Alongside MTU, University of Galway and Mary Immaculate College will also receive €230,000. The South East Technological University will receive €460,000, while the Technological University of the Shannon and Atlantic Technological University will be awarded €690,000 and €2,660,000 respectively.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD said the new funding strengthens and supports campuses dispersed across the regions. 

“This new fund will be key to supporting our institutions and sustaining their dispersed campuses, helping them to deliver on their mandates to develop knowledge and skills, promote innovation and collaboration, and to foster social inclusion.

“Dispersed campuses often have higher costs associated with delivering education,” he added. “It shouldn’t be that all roads lead to the big city when it comes to education.”

The Minister also announced the creation of a new Strategic Support Fund of €1.2m.

This is a continuation of an existing support fund which can be deployed to support vulnerable institutions.