Agreement reached with Teachers Union of Ireland in Waterford IT and IT Carlow on Technological University.

The Technological University for the South East is now a step closer.

A memorandum of understanding has been agreed between IT Carlow, WIT and the Teachers Union of Ireland.

The deal agreed at the Workplace Relations Commission will now be put to a staff ballot next week.

If members vote in favour, it will be mean a major hurdle holding up the establishment of a Technological University for the south east will have been cleared.

Fine Gael TD for Carlow, Pat Deering said this is an important step forward in reaching the goal of a University in the South East.

He said while there is still some way to go, this means that agreement has been reached with the key trade union that represents staff at both WIT and IT Carlow.