Ninth Level Ireland

“At todays Waterford City and County Council Plenary meeting a motion that I had submitted in January was finally debated and passed unanimously. The motion read ‘That Waterford City and County Council calls on the government to clarify the funding and configuration arrangements for their proposed Technological University before dissolving Waterford Institute of Technology’ …” (more)

[Cllr Mary Roche, 9 April]

“A €1,000-a-day job at the new Technological University of the South East was filled without regard to proper procurement procedures, which are supposed to apply to all positions over €25,000. Tom Boland was announced as executive director of the Technological University of the South East consortium by Higher Education Minister Simon Harris last July …” (more)

[Darren Skelton, Irish Examiner, 31 March]

“Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures he is taking to ensure that the Institute of Technology Tralee and Cork Institute of Technology merger to Munster Technological University is balanced and fair; if reassurance will be given to all stakeholders that both former institutes are fairly represented now and in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 24 March]

“A meeting between Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris, and representatives of IT Sligo and St Angela’s College will take place next week. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday next in relation to the possible merger of IT Sligo and St Angela’s College as well as the potential for a Technological University in the north west …” (more)

[Ocean FM, 18 March]

“… Why is everything around TUSE so opaque? Can government ever just make a direct announcement in favour of Waterford city? Not while politicians from Wexford or Kilkenny are in power? We have been burned often enough to be wary lest the site becomes the grave of Waterford’s final separation from the other cities of Ireland. ‘Announcements’ about its purchase for WIT were recently imminent, but vanished like the snow of a few weeks ago, without trace. Why is everything around TUSE so opaque? …” (more)

[Waterford News and Star, 16 March]

“An application for the Technological University of the South East (TUSE) is set to be formally lodged on April 28th. The proposed merger of Waterford Institute of Technology and IT Carlow is set to have a significant campus in Wexford, according to Senator Malcolm Byrne. The project has been interrupted by COVID-19 as well as significant political tensions in recent weeks regarding the location of its headquarters …” (more)

[Jordan Norris, Munster Express, 16 March]

“The Minister for Higher Education says there will be no changes to the terms and conditions for staff at the new university in the south-east. The new technological university is expected to open early next year with the consortium to submit their application no later than April 28th …” (more)

[Sinead Aherne, WLR FM, 11 March]

“Some years ago during a few days in Bologna Italy, home since 1096AD to the oldest university in the world, I was privileged to see in its ancient library a copy of the 1662AD work of Robert Boyle, from Lismore. A university is for ever a piece of educational infrastructure, vital to the wellbeing of any city. Waterford has sought university designation for over 80 years without success …” (more)

[Waterford News and Star, 9 March]

“The south east of the country is increasingly likely to have its long-awaited university next January. An application for the Technological University of the South East (TUSE) will be lodged on April 28, many years after it was first mooted. The proposed university, based on a merger of Waterford Institute of Technology IT and IT Carlow, will have campuses in Waterford, Carlow and Wexford …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 10 March]

“A number of TDs have criticsed the chatter emanating from some quarters regarding the location of the headquarters of the new South-east university, saying it is not helpful. At the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills, chair Paul Kehoe said people were doing ‘a considerable amount of damage’ to the TUSE …” (more)

[Sam Matthews, Kilkenny People, 4 March]

“Has Waterford become so desperate for success, any success, that we grab any TUSE kite, shadow or waffle in the hope that our university turn might come? Man up, be strong, accentuate the positive and believe in our manifest destiny: the words, signs and omens in the Ireland 2040 national plan actually mean what they say for us. Grab it while it’s going, no matter what it is, lest it be snatched away from us, say the Chamber of Commerce …” (more)

[Waterford News and Star, 2 March]

“Eleven Waterford Councillors say they will not support the application process for the Technological University of the South East (TUSE). The group, comprised of Independent and Labour Councillors from across the city and county, believe ‘it will not deliver the shift required to allow the region reach the targets outlined in Ireland 2040’. The Councillors made their announcement in a statement following a meeting held last Thursday February 25th …” (more)

[Kieran Foley, Munster Express, 2 March]

“Following a meeting with Waterford Oireachtas members and a selection of its members, Waterford Chamber has reconfirmed its commitment to the process of securing a Technological University of the South East. During the two-hour meeting, the elected officials heard from business representatives from various sectors and were also afforded the opportunity to address the concerns raised …” (more)

[Darren Skelton, Waterford News and Star, 24 February]

“It’s a line from a song in the film ‘Mahogany’ sung by Diana Ross. It goes, ‘Do you know where you’re going to? Do you like the things that life is showing you?’ It’s an appropriate ask for the TUSE process. Can anyone give a sensible rationale for where we’re going or why? Is the rush to get the word university over the door in any form supposed to make us all step into line regardless of the outcome? …” (more)

[Waterford News and Star, 23 February]

“Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the workstreams activity agreed regarding the new technological university for the south east development (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 11 February]

“With the latest deadline for the application of the Technological University of the South East due in April, a new group has been formed – Friends of the University of the South East (FUSE) – with a view to ‘protecting the best interests of WIT and the future of education in Waterford and the South East’. Speaking to the Waterford News & Star this week, FUSE member Padraig O’Griofa …” (more)

[Darren Skelton, Waterford News and Star, 10 February]

“John Cummins (Fine Gael): I welcome the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to the House and thank him for taking this Commencement matter in person. I wish to acknowledge the interest and determination of the Minister in ensuring that Waterford and the south-east region finally achieve the long-held ambition to have a university of international standing …” (more)

[Seanad debates, 8 February]

“Who do you think is winning, who are you up for? Who do you think started it? And, of course, what do you make of our new fellow South-Easterners in Wicklow, Kildare and Laois? Are you a closet greater Dublin area hater, probably an unacceptable form of racism? After all, they have had a warm welcome for our children for years …” (more)

[Waterford News and Star, 9 February]

“Metropolitan Mayor Davy Daniels has re-iterated his call for the Headquarters of a Technological University of the South East (TUSE) to be located in Waterford. ‘It’s hugely important that the decision on locating the headquarters be secured for Waterford now’, said Mayor Daniels (Ind). ‘Any delays on this critical decision for Waterford cannot continue’ …” (more)

[Dermot Keyes, Waterford News and Star, 8 February]

“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 …” (more)

[Julie Smyth, WLR FM, 8 February]