Ninth Level Ireland

“… A greater threat to Waterford emerged with Simon Harris’ announcement of Tom Boland, ex head of the Higher Education Authority as facilitator to drive the TUSE project. Harris left the Dept of Health and took its Secretary General, Jim Breslin, with him. The men who oversaw the Herity Report, sinful delay and obfuscation about the second cath lab and expansion of cardiology at UHW are now in the Department of Higher Education. Back in saddle again, as the C&W song says, riding Waterford into the ground once more …” (more)

[Waterford News and Star, 5 August]

“The TUI has questioned the financial viability of the Munster Technological University. Former Minister Joe McHugh granted IT Tralee and CIT technological university status in May, when he approved the creation of the MTU …” (more)

[Radio Kerry News, 5 August]

“Former Chief Executive of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), Tom Boland is the new ‘independent Programme Executive Director for the TUSEI consortium comprising the Carlow and Waterford Institutes of Technology’. He was appointed on July 28 by Higher Education Minister Simon Harris to ‘accelerate plans for a technological university in the South East’ …” (more)

[Waterford News and Star, 5 August]

“Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the costs expended to date by all agencies on the establishment of the Munster technological university; the estimated expenditure that will be needed for the remainder of 2020; if Cork Institute of Technology or Institute of Technology Tralee will be offering a voluntary redundancy scheme to staff; if so, the estimated cost of such a scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 30 July]

“James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the establishment of the technological university of the south-east with the provision of a County Wexford campus; and if she will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 30 July]

“The President of Waterford Institute of Technology says there’s a huge sense of optimism over the future of the Technological University for the South East following the appointment of former HEA CEO Tom Boland to oversee the process …” (more)

[Anthony McFeely, WLR FM, 28 July]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD has today (28 July 2020) announced the appointment of an independent person to accelerate plans for a technological university in the South East …” (more)

[Gov.ie, 28 July]

“A Sligo/Leitrim TD is calling for a commitment from Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris that the application for a Connacht-Ulster Technological University will be submitted by the end of this year …” (more)

[Ocean FM, 21 July]

“Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to including Limerick Institute of Technology in plans for the Munster Technological University in addition to Cork Institute of Technology and IT Tralee …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 7 July]

“Plans for a new Technological University for the South East will have to be pursued by the new government. That’s according to Ray Cullen, the Head of Tourism and Hospitality for Waterford IT …” (more)

[Shauna McHugh, KCLR, 30 June]

“The Labour Party in Waterford has called for a time limit to be put on the troubled talks process around the proposed Technological University of the South East. And the party said that unless a deadline for a resolution can be found, Waterford Institute of Technology should go it alone and try to attain university status without IT Carlow …” (more)

[Shane Doran, Waterford Now, 22 June]

“The sod has been turned on a €22m sports complex on Cork Institute of Technology’s Bishopstown campus. It will deliver an indoor arena, with basketball courts and seating for 400 people, capable of hosting exams and conferences for up to 1,000 people, and an indoor high-performance indoor athletics centre, which will include a large multi-event zone, with a sprint track and elite training labs …” (more)

[Eoin English, Irish Examiner, 22 June]

“The draft programme for government (PFG), which has been pored over by political anoraks and reporters across the country today, ‘recognises the urgency attached to the establishment of the TU of the south east of Ireland’ …” (more)

[Dermot Keyes, Waterford News and Star, 15 June]

“IT Tralee says no member of staff will be given professorships following the merger with CIT. The Institute of Technology Tralee and Cork Institute of Technology will become the Munster Technological University in January of next year, after the Minister for Education approved their merger last month …” (more)

[Radio Kerry, 13 June]

“Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) has retained its focus on delivering a regional Technological University, irrespective of other developments in the third level sector. Speaking to the Waterford News and Star, WIT’s Vice President for Strategy Dr Richard Hayes said that ‘work between WIT and IT Carlow is ongoing …'” (more)

[Dermot Keyes, Waterford News and Star, 7 June]

“The Education Minister Joe McHugh says everything’s in place for the Technological University for the South East to go ahead and submit an application this year. The issue was raised in the Dail by Local TD John McGuinness and Waterford’s David Cullinane …” (more)

[Domhnall Doyle, KCLR, 4 June]

“The President of Carlow’s Institute of Technology (ITC) has told staff that financial challenges and legacy issues must be addressed in furthering the bid to achieve Technological University (TU) status in co-operation with Waterford IT (WIT). However, in an all-staff email issued this week, Dr Patricia Mulcahy stated …” (more)

[Dermot Keyes, Waterford News and Star, 3 June]

“The former Head of Letterkenny IT’s Tourism School is to spearhead the drive to establish a Technological University for the West and North West. Dr Seán Duffy has been appointed Executive Project Lead of the Connacht Ulster Alliance, which brings together three of the regions third level colleges …” (more)

[Highland Radio, 3 June]

“While admitting to feeling ‘a little let down’ in the wake of last week’s Munster Technological University (MTU) announcement, WIT President Willie Donnelly has told staff: ‘We have earned the title of University’ …” (more)

[Dermot Keyes, Waterford News and Star, 31 May]

“The Munster Technological University’s governing body is being urged to consider the former St Finan’s Hospital as a location for distance learning. The merger between IT Tralee and CIT was given the green light last week …” (more)

[Radio Kerry, 31 May]