Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the research question, we will have TU Research and Innovation Supporting Enterprise, RISE, funding next month as well. That is specifically investment in research, and the technological universities in the south east will benefit from it.

Teacher training centres and initial teacher education is a policy matter for the Department of Education, but I will seek the views of the Department on it for the Deputy. SETU has not lacked any ambition in terms of what it can do in a short time. It wants a pharmacy school and a veterinary school. These are all good things that it is looking for, but the policy for that lies with the Department of Education. I do know it makes points about demographics and numbers and whether there are enough already. I think the point Deputy Ó Cathasaigh is making is about regional balance in terms of the locations. I will seek the Department's view on that and revert to the Deputy.