The Minister for Higher Education has described recent speculation over the headquarters of the new technological university for the South East as 'divisive and counterproductive'.
Responding to questions from Senator John Cummins in the Seanad, Simon Harris said the government was committed to expanding Higher Education in Waterford.
The Minister also said his comments regarding the list of counties to benefit from the creation of the Technological University for the South East (TUSEI) had been wilfully misunderstood.
"I was somewhat bemused to see people mocking my geography recently when I talked about how it would be brilliant if students from counties Wicklow, Laois or others, instead of having always to look to Dublin, could decide to go to Waterford and spend their euro there, invest there and set up a family there. This is what we want for Waterford and the south east. We need to get rid of the silly mentality that all roads must lead to Dublin, which is exactly what I was trying to talk about, though some people decided purposely to misunderstand".
Senator Cummins pressed the Minister on the location for the headquarters following a week of speculation that the Headquarters could be in Kilkenny:
"The Minister... will appreciate that there is considerable anxiety in Waterford about this issue. It would be helpful if he could at least say that the only logical location for a headquarters of the new university will be an area that has students. I ask the Minister to take that on board and perhaps he can clarify the matter in his comments."
In response, Simon Harris said that was "entirely logical" but the HQ decision would be made by the TU governing authority;
"but as I have said clearly, the speculation around Kilkenny is baseless and idle. It is misinformed, unhelpful and potentially divisive at a crucial moment for this project.
"There have been many false dawns for this university in the south east. I am refusing to allow us to be sidetracked. The first part of the process has to be to get the application in, appoint the independent panel and get it over the line, and then have a technological university for the south east that will open its doors on 1 January next year. I have been clear about the speculation over a headquarters in Kilkenny.
"There is absolutely no question about the centrality of Waterford to this undertaking. The project would not be possible without the centrality of Waterford. Equally, it would not be possible to do it alone. We need to work together and IT Carlow is playing a major role in this, as is all of the south east. It is my clear intention to use the establishment of this university to expand the imprint of higher education in Waterford. The Taoiseach also said that in the Dáil last week. We are going to make Waterford bigger and better for higher education. I will keep in touch with the Senator on this matter."
