Ninth Level Ireland

“Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider an amendment to the Technological Universities Act 2018 for section 12(j) to be amended to increase the number of education and training board nominees onto each technological university’s governing body from one to three nominees …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 16 June]

“The vote of the WIT branch of the TUI to accept the TUSE and the merger with Carlow IT puts an end to our hopes for a university of similar status to UL in Waterford. Hope springs eternal and the case that Waterford had for full university designation has not gone away. Maybe a more enlightened government or a more forceful political push from this area will achieve what seemed to be within our grasp in 2006 …” (more)

[Waterford News and Star, 8 June]

“Ennis is to become home to the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest it has been confirmed, with the name of the country’s newest TU unveiled this week. This comes following the announcement last month that Athlone Institute of Technology and Limerick Institute of Technology Ireland had been designated as a TU, with LIT’s Ennis campus on Bindon Street falling under the remit of the new institution …” (more)

[Clare Champion, 1 June]

“Following ballots of members of the WIT and Carlow IT branches this week, the Memorandum of Understanding between TUI and WIT management and IT Carlow management in relation to the Technological University of the South East Ireland (TUSEI) has been accepted. The results of the ballot were as follows: 79% voted in favour of the memorandum in WIT branch; 90% voted in favour of the memorandum in Carlow IT branch …” (more)

[Darren Skelton, Waterford News and Star, 27 May]

“The name of the country’s next technological university in the Midlands has been revealed. Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest will be formed from the merger of existing institutes of technology in Athlone and Limerick. It is due to be legally established later this year and will cater to a student population of more than 14,000 across campuses in Athlone, Limerick, Clonmel, Ennis and Thurles …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 25 May]

“The Connacht Ulster Alliance has applied to establish a new technological university in the west and north-west. Ireland may be getting another technological university next year in a move that could be of ‘critical importance’ for the west and north-west of the country …” (more)

[Sarah Harford, Silicon Republic, 24 May]

“In March, it was announced that Athlone IT and Limerick IT would merge to form the country’s third technological university. In the past week it has been revealed that the new TU, based in Munster, will be called the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest. The name was decided upon to reflect the college’s connection with the river Shannon …” (more)

[Jessica Woodlock, The College View, 24 May]

“A Mayo TD has welcomed the submission of the application by the Connacht Ulster Alliance for the formation of a Technological University in the West/North West. Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Further and Higher Education Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh said: ‘Making Castlebar a university town is now within reach and will be a game changer for the county town’ …” (more)

[Connaught Telegraph, 24 May]

“A Donegal Deputy says it’s vital the new Technological University recognises the potential of LYIT’s Killybegs campus. On Friday, the application for a new Technological University which would encompass Letterkenny Institute of Technology, Sligo IT and GMIT came before Minister Simon Harris …” (more)

[Highland Radio, 24 May]

“Plans to form a new technological university for the west and northwest region have moved a step closer after an alliance of three institutes of technology submitted a formal application to the Government. Galway-Mayo IT, Letterkenny IT and IT Sligo – known as the Connacht Ulster Alliance – have formed a joint bid to merge and secure technological university status …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 21 May]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD has today (21 May) confirmed he has received an application from the Connacht Ulster Alliance (CUA) comprising the Institute of Technology Sligo, Galway Mayo Institute of Technology and Letterkenny Institute of Technology …” (more)

[gov.ie, 21 May]

“Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the technological university for the south-east; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 20 May]

“Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the new technological university will be legally established to create Athlone and Limerick institute of technology; his views on the measures needed to ensure the towns of Thurles and Clonmel, County Tipperary will prosper as university towns; the regional assistance that will be needed to facilitate the new designations; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 20 May]

“So said the English economist John Maynard Keynes, whose ideas shifted the policies of governments during and after the Great Depression of the 1930s. Globally and locally, economic circumstances have never been more in flux and such are the extraordinary times we live in that the collapse of the supposed Saudi-backed investment in Waterford’s North Quays could actually open up an ideal ‘opportunity knocks’ scenario …” (more)

[Richard Finnegan, 20 May]

“LYIT, GMIT and IT Sligo have today (Friday) submitted their long-awaited joint application for Technological University status. The progress has been welcomed by Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh as an exciting step forward for the future of education in the region …” (more)

[Donegal Daily, 21 May]

“Limerick will not feature in the name of its newest university, it has been revealed. In news announced earlier this month, the Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) and Athlone Institute of Technology are to merge to form a new technological university …” (more)

[Nick Rabbitts, Limerick Leader, 20 May]

“The Minister for Further and Higher Education is ‘hopeful’ of receiving an application to establish a Technological University in the north west soon. Independent Sligo/Leitrim TD, Marian Harkin sought an update on developments with the Connacht/Ulster Alliance in the Dail today with Minister Simon Harris …” (more)

[Ocean FM, 20 May]

“The announcement this week that Ennis is to become a university town has been described as ‘fantastic news’ for the county capital and the entire region. The green light has been given for a new Technological University in the Mid-West and Midlands. Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has designated Athlone Institute of Technology and Limerick Institute of Technology Ireland’s next technological university …” (more)

[Clare Champion, 8 May]

“Following on from recent revelations that Waterford Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Carlow hired two consultants to drive on the TUSE application – at €1,000 per day – without advertising the tender as per European procurement rules, the Waterford News & Star can reveal that the two colleges involved in the Munster Technological University’s application did the same thing …” (more)

[Darren Skelton, Waterford News and Star, 5 May]

“The President of LIT is warning that a new financial model for higher education will have to be developed to ensure its transition into a technological university is sustainable. It comes as the institution has confirmed a new entity in conjunction with Athlone IT will be formed by the autumn, which will see a technological university in the Midlands and the Midwest …” (more)

[Clare FM, 5 May]