Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

This is a very welcome day and another extremely important step along the road in providing a university of scale and substance, as it has been referred to, in the south east. The technological university of the south east will now be known as the South East Technological University, SETU. It has been important in terms of balanced regional development and is twice referenced in the programme for Government. I am delighted that the timetables are being adhered to and that we will be able to make the commencement order for 1 May. That is extremely important.

It goes some way towards tackling a structural issue that has existed in the south-east region for generations. To take the example of my family, of the four children, three of us attended Waterford Institute of Technology, WIT, in one capacity or another, but all four of us had to leave the region in order to finish our education. That pattern has a significant effect on the demographics of the region. That is demonstrated in the research and it is well acknowledged. The region has been losing people from the ages of 18 to 30 and it very often struggles to get them back. It has a significant impact on the wealth of the region because there is a significant wealth transfer as parents pay for their children to attend universities outside the region. This goes some way towards addressing that problem. It is very welcome.

I am glad the Minister referenced the bittersweet nature of signing an order such as this, in that WIT and IT Carlow are being dissolved. They have proud traditions. I am biased in this regard, but WIT in particular has a proud tradition. Even reaching back to when it was Waterford Regional Technical College, WRTC, it has provided an outstanding service to the people of Waterford and the wider south-east region. I reference again its geographic location within the city. That is important because I know the Minister is committed to expanding the footprint of SETU within Waterford. I am anxious that we expand the current footprint because it sits within its communities and its city extremely well.

As I stated, I remember when WIT was WRTC. Promises and commitments were given at that time that the name change would mean something more than changing the sign above the door. It is extremely important that this name change means more than changing the sign over the door. It must be the university of substance and scale to which we have referred. I know this is not necessarily the day to speak about capital allocations but that is important. As we say as Gaeilge, we must beart de réir ár mbriathar. We must deliver on what this university promises to be by ensuring there is a commensurate level of commitment in terms of capital funding and otherwise.

However, I welcome this day. It is an important step along the road. It is important that those who are currently attending WIT and IT Carlow will be able to graduate from a university and with a university qualification. I very much hope it will be the anchor point and the pivotal point for a regeneration of the south-east region, and Waterford in particular. I thank the Minister for bringing the motion before the committee.