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DkIT Welcomes Tánaiste Michéal Martin

04 April 2023

Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) were delighted to welcome the Tánaiste, Michéal Martin, on to campus on Tuesday 3rd of April. During Mr. Martin’s visit to the Institute, he met with DkIT President Dr. Diarmuid O’Callaghan, Governing Body Member Clifford Kelly and the Institutes Executive Board Members before undertaking a short campus tour.



Michéal Martin was warmly welcomed to the 87-acre campus by Dr. Sheila Flanagan, Vice President for Academic Affairs & Registrar, on behalf of all the students and staff of DkIT. Dr. Flanagan spoke with pride about the Institute’s accomplishments, from the 97% graduate employability rate, the Institute’s new state of the art STEM science building due to open this year, which will allow for additional students on campus and DkIT’s ever growing apprenticeship provision. She expanded on the award winning and revolutionary research projects that are currently being undertaken in the Institute. Dr Flanagan highlighted the importance the Institute has on the development of the region both economically and socially, and how DkIT’s vision is to make life better for students, staff, society both nationally and internationally.

The Tánaiste started his tour by visiting DkIT’s Regional Development Centre (RDC) where some of Ireland’s largest and most successful companies have benefitted from the business expertise and specialist supports on offer. He was welcomed to the centre by Aidan Browne, Head of Innovation & Business Development and Prof Fergal McCaffrey, Head of School of Informatics and Creative Arts. Since 2001, 235 companies have incubated in the RDC and over 1700 entrepreneurs have been supported by the centre. The RDC also acts as a soft landing for multi-nationals, including foreign direct investments via the IDA. Companies who have utilised the supports offered by the RDC include Overhaul, the supply chain integrity technology company. The Tánaiste met with the Overhaul team, and they discussed the support they have received from the Institute which they claimed has been integral to their current international success. Michéal Martin continued his conversations in the RDC by being introduced to the Smooth Muscle Research Innovation centre by Dr. Tim McCormac, Head of Research. The Smooth Muscle Project has received several grants and awards for their revolutionary internationally renowned research accomplishments in the field of health science.

The Tánaiste continued to the Department of Engineering accompanied by the recently appointed Head of School of Engineering, Dr. Breda Brennan.  Her team introduced the Tánaiste to some of DkIT’s motor mechanic apprentices who have just started their 6-week block in the Institute. The Tánaiste spent time among the new arrivals. DkIT recently reported the highest number of enrolments ever in their extensive 52-year history of Craft Apprentices. The Institute has seen over 1000 apprentices register recently in Electrical, Plumbing, Motor Mechanics and Carpentry & Joinery (C&J) with that number likely to increase in the future. DkIT has a long, proud, and award-winning history of educating apprentices and these recent enrolments have seen DkIT increase its apprentice numbers by a phenomenal 100% since 2018/2019.  The Tánaiste was also treated to a Renewable Energy Research demonstration by Dr. Paul MacArtain, Head of Department, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering who highlighted the work to date that has been accomplished by the Institute in regard to sustainable energy for the future.

The final part of the Tánaiste’s trip was a visit to DkIT’s Nursing building where he toured the Institute’s state-of-the-art facilities. Mr. Martin was welcomed to the building by Dr. Edel Healy, Head of School, Health & Science and Dr. Myles Hackett, Head of Nursing who showcased the Institute’s facilities while discussing the importance of graduate entry nursing and undergraduate expansion for the future. The Tánaiste got a demonstration of the ProAct Platform which is currently being developed by NetwellCASALA and the purpose of this research is to support better quality of life for people living with age-related health challenges.

DkIT President, Dr. Diarmuid O’Callaghan said,

We were absolutely delighted to welcome the Tánaiste, Michéal Martin, onto our Campus. This visit gave us the opportunity to showcase some of our Institute’s facilities and supports to the community. It was fantastic to have the occasion to present some of our current research projects, which are ground-breaking developments in the world of human centric health care and environmental sustainability for the future. We were also thrilled that this visit allowed Mr. Martin to meet some of our fantastic students, apprentices and staff too’.

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