Ninth Level Ireland

“Institutes of technology say they need €136m in State funding next year as the first slice of a three-year investment package of €534m. The Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) makes the case in a pre-Budget submission highlighting the critical role of the sector in regional development, in addressing disadvantage and in lifelong learning …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 28 September]

“An objective has been set out this week to establish the Technological University of the South East on 1 January 2022. The chairpersons of the governing bodies and the presidents of both Institute of Technology Carlow and Waterford Institute of Technology this week announced the objective in a briefing note to business and other community leaders …” (more)

[Suzanne Pender, Carlow Nationalist, 26 September]

“The chairpersons of the governing bodies and the presidents of Waterford Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Carlow have announced their objective that the Technological University of the South East of Ireland (TUSEI) will be established on January 1, 2022 …” (more)

[Dylan White, Waterford Live, 23 September]

“Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the fact that Dundalk IT is the only institute of technology not to have formally linked into a consortium to obtain technological university status; the actions his Department and the HEA will take to advance technological university status for Dundalk IT; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 10 September]

“IT Tralee says it’s engaging with the TUI to address a number of concerns. The Teachers’ Union of Ireland raised a number of issues in April, a month before the former Minister of Education approved the merger of IT Tralee and CIT …” (more)

[Radio Kerry, 10 September]

“Verona Murphy (Wexford, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the amalgamation of Institute of Technology Carlow and Waterford Institute of Technology to form the Technological University for the South East Ireland …” (more)

[Dáil debates, 9 September]

“Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans in place to progress a university of the north-west involving Letterkenny IT and Magee College, Derry; and the way in which such plans may impact on the Connacht, Ulster Alliance for a technological university application …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 9 September]

“Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the fact that Dundalk Institute of Technology is the only institute of technology not to have formally linked into a consortium to obtain technological university status; the actions he and the Higher Education Authority will take to advance technological university status for the institute; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 9 September]

“Verona Murphy (Wexford, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the progress of the Connacht and Ulster alliance of Sligo Institute of Technology, Galway and Mayo Institute of Technology and Letterkenny Institute of Technology on forming a technical university …” (more)

[Dáil debates, 9 September]

“The Minister for Higher Education has confirmed that significant progress is being made in relation to the Connacht Ulster Alliance of LYIT, Sligo IT and GMIT in meeting the relevant criteria …” (more)

[Highland Radio, 10 September]

“The search is on for the inaugural president of the Munster Technological University. In January, IT Tralee and Cork Institute of Technology will formally merge to create MTU. There will be 18,000 students across six campuses …” (more)

[Radio Kerry News, 7 August]

“… 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]