“A Freedom of Information request by the Waterford News & Star suggests that IT Carlow were not consulted on the appointment of Mr Tom Boland in advance of his assignment by Minister for Higher Education, Simon Harris on July 28, 2020 …” (more)
[Darren Skelton, Waterford News & Star, 2 January]
“… the development of the proposed TUSE between WIT and Carlow IT will be a tremendous political challenge. Many people here are afraid of a shabby political betrayal. A recent Zoom meeting between the heads of WIT, Carlow IT and staff from both institutions, facilitated by Tom Boland, demonstrated the extent to which Carlow IT has been allowed to dominate the proceedings although it is by far the smaller institution …” (more)
[Waterford News and Star, 21 December]
“The Higher Education Minister says he’s expecting the application to set up a Technological University for the South East in April. Simon Harris says he’s briefed the cabinet on the latest news on the merger between IT Carlow and Waterford IT …” (more)
[Domhnall Doyle, KCLR FM, 14 December]
““David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to fractured industrial relations in Waterford Institute of Technology that are resulting in a large number of cases in the WRC and courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 8 December]
“… Even as I write, the background chorus of nervousness about the future of WIT is gaining ground. Government Oireachtas members, Butler, O’Cathasaigh and Cummins tell us that we must accept the ‘only game in town’ and that WIT and Carlow IT must merge to form the TUSE and get the word ‘university’ over the door in some form in Waterford? Even Sinn Fein’s David Cullinane is at it …” (more)
[Waterford News and Star, 8 December]
“The €110 million funding breakthrough for the North Quays development delivered some badly needed pre-Christmas cheer for the people of Waterford. Combined with the prospect of a Covid-19 vaccine, it opens up all sorts of possibilities in 2021 at the end of what’s been the ultimate annus horribilis …” (more)
[Richard Finnegan, 26 November]
“The young people of Waterford should ‘accept no less’ than a commitment on behalf of the Government to adequate funding of the TUSE project, Green Party TD Marc Ó Cathasaigh has said. Speaking in the Dáil on Thursday 19 November, Mr Ó Cathasaigh said the Technological University for the South East is a ‘project so important in terms of balanced regional development’ that it is specifically referenced twice within the Programme for Government and that is must receive adequate funding going forward …” (more)
[Jade Wilson, Waterford News and Star, 19 November]
“‘Winter is Coming’ – three chilling words familiar to the Game of Thrones enthusiasts amongst us. The phrase which heralded impending doom to the civilised world of Westeros, or for the uninitiated GoT fans out there – in layman’s terms …” (more)
[Richard Finnegan, 28 October]
“Perhaps channelling Fleetwood Mac, the Labour Party locally has taken a brave and interesting position in advocating for Waterford Institute of Technology to set a deadline on talks or ‘go its own way’ and seek to become a standalone University …” (more)
[Richard Finnegan, 25 October]
“The announcement of €5.1m funding for the Technological University of the South East of Ireland (TUSEI) project has been welcomed by the presidents of Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) and Institute of Technology Carlow (IT Carlow). The TUSEI project had applied to the multi-annual Technological Universities Transformation Fund (TUTF) for funding support in respect of the costs arising in working towards designation as a technological university, in line with the Technological Universities Act 2018 …” (more)
[Claire Quinn, Waterford News and Star, 7 October]
“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]
“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]
“Verona Murphy (Wexford, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a new Wexford campus as part of the Technological University for the South-East Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 9 September]
“… 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]
