Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 July 2026
333. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a report of "sectoral guidelines or standards for investigations of breaches of institutional SVH policy' has been published, following a "Call for Collaboration" to the Higher Education Institutions, as this was to announce its outcomes in Q4 of 2025. [49942/26]
View answerThe “Call for Collaboration” referred to by the Deputy was issued by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) in September 2025 to support the development of sectoral guidelines or standards for the investigation of breaches of institutional policies relating to sexual violence and harassment (SVH). This call was developed with the input of the HEA Advisory Group on Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Higher Education Institutions.
Following a competitive process, a proposal led by the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), in collaboration with 15 other higher education institutions, was approved in December 2025 and formally commenced in February 2026. Its objective is to develop a robust framework of trauma-informed investigation guidelines. The work is ongoing and is expected to result in the development of agreed guidance for the participating HEIs upon completion of the project.
