Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)

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As the Deputy is aware my Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions, including the Universities and Institutes of Technology. The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions and the internal disbursement of that funding is then a matter for the individual institution.

These institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day to day affairs, including the allocation of all of its income (both public and private). University College Cork (UCC) has confirmed that this investment will feature in the 2017/18 financial statements and will be accounted for as part of UCC’s non-pay expenditure.

The collaboration is grounded within the University’s Act 1997, where the objects and function of a University as set out in Section 12 specifically extends to promoting the cultural and social life of society, while fostering and respecting the diversity of the University’s traditions. Section 13(d) of the University Act also gives powers to the University to collaborate with such cultural and artistic interests to further the objects as set out in Section 12. This collaboration is specifically designed to ensure UCC is delivering on those objectives as enshrined in legislation.

UCC has advised the HEA that key features of the partnership include:

- Internships’ for UCC students in Cork Opera House

- The partnership reflects UCC’s strategy priorities

- The partnership will enable UCC to host large-scale international conferences

- Both organisations will collaborate on the research and development of a new MA in Arts & Cultural Management

- Both UCC and Cork Opera House have been features of the cultural landscape of the city

The multi-layered UCC-Cork Opera House partnership will also facilitate students becoming interns at the theatre in the areas of organisational management, marketing, production, business development and stage management.