Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Dr. Ryan for that.

I have a question for Dr. Mulcahy that follows on from Senator Byrne's question. I am being somewhat parochial in asking about the technological university in the south east and the Wexford campus. Is Dr. Mulcahy confident that the group will have its application ready for the technological university by the end of April and that it can be in place by January 2022?

On local radio yesterday, the Minister, Deputy Harris, spoke about the TU in the south east and also about the Wexford site. Buying the site is one thing, but the follow-on investment for infrastructure is required. The next stage in setting up the TU is deciding what courses and programmes will be available in the Waterford, Carlow and Wexford campuses. This is a fantastic opportunity for the TU in the south east and, more importantly, for the Wexford campus. I thank the president of IT Carlow, Dr. Mulcahy, for that institution's commitment to County Wexford over many years. I have attended all the graduation ceremonies in recent years. They are absolutely fantastic.

Carlow has given Wexford students the opportunity they would not otherwise have had, had IT Carlow not had the foresight to put in the campus there. It was a pilot programme 25 years ago; I will not call it a pilot programme now because it has its successes and is absolutely fantastic.

I understand much of this needs to be worked out in the application, with the Minister and through the European assessment on the infrastructure investment, the future programmes for County Wexford and the site in County Wexford.