Matt Shanahan demands plan for South-East technological university
Matt Shanahan criticised the government's handling of plans for a technological university in the South East, arguing there is no realistic plan and highlighting divergent visions between IT Carlow and WIT. He said WIT had received no new teaching-building investment despite large sector capital spending, and he expressed strong support for establishing a South-East technological university.
Main criticism of government planning
Matt Shanahan told the Tánaiste that since 2011 three programmes for government have pushed a technological university on the South East, but asked - Where is the government's plan? He said no realistic and honest plan has been presented and queried how anyone could commit to a TU without such planning.
Investment disparity highlighted
He said 1.7 billion of capital investment was undertaken in the sector in the past decade, yet zero has been invested in new teaching buildings in WIT. Shanahan argued the small fraction of funding that reached the South East went entirely to Carlow and favoured Carlow's vision.
Different institutional visions described
Shanahan contrasted IT Carlow and WIT, saying IT Carlow is oriented around the Greater Dublin Area while WIT has filled the need for a university in the South East and was the top IoT of the year for the third time in 10 years. He warned the State has effectively abandoned the South East.
Support for a South-East technological university and site work
He noted the last government passed legislation making technological universities possible and said he is confident and strongly supportive that the next technological university could be in the South East. He added the government is working to secure new sites to allow expansion in Waterford City and said that a South-East TU would boost student retention, inbound students and foreign direct investment prospects.
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Gaele maghwitladhsgiem C Áedra. Tanaiste, since 2011 three programmes for governments have pushed a technological university on the south-east and I use the word pushed deliberately. Where is the government's plan? I.T. Carlo and W.I.T. have fundamentally different visions for education. I.T. Carlo is oriented around the Greater Dublin Area positioned around the strong Dublin universities. WIT has filled the need for a university in the South East, the top IOT of the year for the third time in 10 years. The headquarters is to be fudged, distributed leadership, whatever that is supposed to mean. Massive capital has flowed into the sector. The small fraction that went into the South East went entirely to Carlow. In fact, 1.7 billion of capital investment undertaken in the sector in the past decade, zero has been invested in new teaching buildings in WIT. The State's entire investment supported Carlow's vision to deliver part-time and access programs to the greater Dublin area. The State has abandoned the South East Tornishter. It is clear in the past decade, no planning was done by government. How can you ask anyone to sign up to the TU without a realistic and honest plan for the future? I think we are making some really significant progress when it comes to establishing a technological university for the South East. The last government passed legislation making technological universities possible. We have two already, one in Dublin and the other in Munster, and I am confident and strongly supportive of the possibility that the next one will be in the South East. I think it will make a big difference, not just for Waterford but for the wider region. More students staying in the region, more students coming into the region. In terms of helping to attract FDI, that will be a big plus too. And you will be aware that the government is working to secure new sites and new locations for that campus to allow it to expand in Waterford City in particular. And I hope we will have good news on that soon. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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