Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman for allowing me to participate even though I am not a member of this committee. I thank the Minister and Minister of State for the excellent work they are doing in running a very important Department. It is good that this Government recognises higher education in all of its forms. Heretofore, the Department of Education was all-encompassing but what this new Department is doing is quite unique.

Forgive me if I ask questions that have already been posed. I wish to ask about the proposal for a technological university involving the amalgamation of Limerick Institute of Technology and Athlone Institute of Technology which would, of course, have a campus in both Limerick and Athlone. However, of most interest to me and the people I represent is the campus in Ennis. We really look forward to a technological university in the mid-west, adding to what is already there with the University of Limerick and Mary Immaculate College, which will be of enormous benefit. Figures suggest that the economic benefit of this amalgamation and the higher status of education could be in the region of €420 million, supporting 800 jobs on top of the 1,200 already employed in those colleges. I ask the Minister to outline briefly the status of that project. Are we likely to see it completed this year?