Significant progress on Dundalk IT & Queen’s merger announced

Louth Fianna Fáil TD, Erin McGreehan, has welcomed an update on the progress of the major new partnership that will establish Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) as a University College of Queen’s University Belfast.

The Minister for Further and Higher Education Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, has confirmed that it is his intention to bring the required supporting legislative amendments through a draft Heads of Bill to Cabinet in due course in early 2026.

The Minister also confirmed to Deputy McGreehan, in the Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education Research, Innovation and Science, of which Deputy Erin McGreehan is the Cathaoirleach, that the draft Heads of Bill will be brought to the Committee as soon as possible.

This comes prior to the signing ceremony between Dundalk Institute of Technology and Queens University Belfast which will be held in early March which the Minister will be attending. This marks the formal endorsement of a Memorandum of Understanding between Dundalk Institute of Technology and Queen’s University Belfast.

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Commenting on the progress, Deputy Erin McGreehan said: “It is fantastic to receive an update on the progress of this merger. The signing ceremony will formally recognise the cross-border collaboration on this project.

"There is a lot of work happening behind the scenes between both Dundalk Institute of Technology, Queen’s University Belfast, The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Northern Ireland Department of the Economy.”

“As a proud Louth woman, and Cathaoirleach of the Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, I look forward to engaging further on this to ensure that this legislation is progressed as soon as possible.

"This merger will have profound impacts and opportunities for the people of Louth. It will expand opportunities for student and researcher mobility, foster innovation, and further support delivery of regional balance.”