On 4 June 2025 the Minister for Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, announced the launch of the Targeted Enhancement Fund (TEF): Technological Sector & Specialist Colleges. The TEF, which will be worth up to €65.8m and provide funding over a 36-month period (1 January 2026 – 31 December 2028), will provide targeted support for initiatives that are critical to the strategic development of eligible higher education institutions (HEIs).

The fund is open to Technological Universities (TUs), Institutes of Technology (IoTs), and publicly funded specialist colleges. The TEF will contribute towards the cost of maintaining or initiating enhancement activities that are central to an institution delivering on its mission and strategic plan. Related to this, the TEF makes provision for an institution to mainstream selected, strategic initiatives that have been financed by other timebound funding streams, including the Technological Sector Advancement Fund (TSAF), Performance Funding, and the Human Capital Initiative. The TEF will also make provision for activities relating to further landscape reform.

The TEF is financed by the Government of Ireland and managed by the Higher Education Authority.

Key Objectives of the TEF

The objectives of the new fund are to:

• Provide targeted support for initiatives that are critical to the strategic development of HEIs in the technological sector and specialist colleges.
• Contribute towards enhancement initiatives that will strengthen the performance of established TUs, Institutes of Technology, and specialist colleges.
• Provide support for eligible HEIs to determine or consolidate their position in the higher education landscape.
• Facilitate the development and/or continuation of initiatives that further national policy and priorities in the technological sector and in specialist colleges.
• Support the implementation of the recommendations set out in the TURN report and OECD review of Technological University academic career paths, contracts and organisation in Ireland.

TEF funding and eligibility

The following institutions are eligible to apply for funding under the TEF:

• Atlantic Technological University
• Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology
• Dundalk Institute of Technology
• Munster Technological University
• South East Technological University
• Technological University Dublin
• Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest
• Mary Immaculate College
• National College of Art and Design

TEF call documentation

The scope of the scheme, eligible costs, application and assessment process, terms and conditions of funding and post award monitoring and reporting processes are set out in the call documentation.

Applications for funding under the TEF should be made using the TEF application templates. The application templates must be submitted to systemperformance@hea.ie by 17:00 on 21 August 2025.

Frequently asked questions:

Queries will be managed through an FAQ process and may be submitted to systemperformance@hea.ie until 17:00 on 07 August 2025 Answers will be posted on this webpage.