Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Will the Minister provide an update on the Wexford campus and the TU application for the south east? Deputy Ó Cathasaigh posed a similar question but I wish to ask about the provision in the Revised Estimates for the increase in funding that will be required for the establishment of the new TUs. Is the Minister considering the enactment of legislation to give the TUs the same borrowing capacity as other universities? More generally, has consideration been given to the future funding of higher education in view of the fact that the EU-funded economic analysis of the Cassells report will, I understand, be published shortly? Is the Minister of State confident that there is sufficient funding available under the programme to provide additional retraining that will inevitably be required due to Covid-19 and to fund the new apprenticeship training plan to ensure sufficient apprentices are trained to the highest international standard? The Ministers have done work with the hospitality sector and I met with representatives from that sector recently. Will the Minister of State shed some light on the conversations he has had with the hospitality sector?