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]

“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]

“The battle for a new technological university in the south-east has been an uphill battle, with little obvious progress being made since plans were originally published in 2015. The South-East has found itself to be something of an anomaly in terms of access to higher education in Ireland …” (more)

[Faye Curran, University Times, 4 August]

“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]

“Deputy John McGuinness has called on Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, to progress a university for the South East and has pointed to Kilkenny for its location for a campus. He joins all of the elected representatives from the region in a campaign to deliver a regional university …” (more)

[Mary Cody, Kilkenny People, 28 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]

“The Labour Party in Waterford is calling for a time limit to be put on the Technological University for the South East (TUSE). Alternatively, Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) alone should be encouraged to establish a Waterford University under the Universities Act 1997 …” (more)

[Waterford Live, 6 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 push for Technological University status in the South East will require a cross-party, trade union and business-led approach according to Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane. Speaking to the Waterford News & Star, Deputy Cullinane said a collaborative shoulder to the wheel is now required ‘to get this over the line’ …” (more)

[Dermot Keyes, Waterford News and Star, 19 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]

“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]

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

[Dáil written answers, 13 May]

“Fine Gael’s decade long policy of frustrating the emergence of a university in Waterford might be at an end. It was a crafty master-stroke to snarl up the future of WIT in a car-crash merger with Carlow …” (more)

[Waterford News and Star, 7 April]

“Malcolm Byrne (Wexford, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in the submission of the application from the institutes of technology in counties Carlow and Waterford for designation as a technological university; and the measures he is taking to assist in such a designation …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 17 December]

“James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding securing a location for a campus (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 17 December]

“John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has advised Waterford and Carlow Institutes of Technology of the way in which the projected combined deficit, debt and payroll costs of the planned technological university of the south east, reportedly estimated at €26 million by 2024-2025, will be addressed …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 10 October]