The issue of where the headquarters for the Technological University for the South East (TUSEI) will be located has "been parked", local politicians have been told.
There are concerns that the headquarters may not be in Waterford but Kilkenny.
The concerns arose following the meeting of a new Regional Engagement Advisory Group, headed by the Presidents of IT Carlow and WIT yesterday (Thursday) which was addressed by the Higher Education minister.
Simon Harris said TUSEI was not just for Waterford or for Carlow but also for Wexford, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Laois and Kildare:
"This region has suffered greatly in successive global economic and financial crises and is crying out for an anchor within the higher education and enterprise landscape that can deliver real change and prosperity; I firmly believe this is what the new TU will do," he said.
"I want also to emphasise that this is a TU for everyone in the region not just for Waterford or for Carlow but also for Wexford, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Laois and Kildare."
Both presidents welcomed the Minister's comments which they described in a statement as “a further demonstration of the commitment of the Government to the development of TUSEI”.
However, politicians in Waterford were quick to raise concerns. Independent TD Matt Shanahan said the Minister needed a geography lesson when it came to what constituted the region.
For Education purposes SE Region includes Wicklow, Kildare, Laois - For heart attack treatment SE doesn’t extend beyond So Kilkenny!! Minister Harris struggling with geography in the higher education portfolio @rte @PatKennyNT @wlrfm @WaterfordNS pic.twitter.com/5nUCnPX79k
— Matt Shanahan TD (Ind) 🇺🇦 🇪🇺 (@MattShanahanTD) January 28, 2021
Waterford's Labour Party representatives also expressed alarm
Following a briefing to local Oireachtas members this morning (Friday) David Cullinane said the Presidents of the Institutes Prof Willie Donnelly and Dr Patricia Mulcahy said they were focusing for now on issues surrounding the management structures and financing of the TUSEI and the issue of location would be one for the management of the new body once established.
The formal application to establish the TUSE is expected on April 28th.
However, David Cullinane told WLR the HQ needs to be in the regional capital:
"Waterford Institute of Technology has been for many years the lead Institute of Technology in the region, it would make perfect makes sense from a balanced regional development perspective that the HQ would be in Waterford. And what we need to do as politicians in this consistuency to work with our colleagues across the region to make those points...because what we don't want to do is to wake up one morning and find out that a decision was made."
The Sinn Fein Deputy said there had to be a commitment to "massive capital investment" to make the University successful and that that level of funding was not yet on the table.
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