Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As a person from the south east, I know the importance of this. It was very much part of the programme for Government when I sat at the Cabinet table in 2011. We thought we would reach this point before now but there have been many false dawns in recent years. The establishment of the technological university is very welcome. The fact it will be established on May Day sends a strong message.

The Minister is correct that we would not be here if it were not for the work and commitment of the staff and others involved in IT Carlow and WIT through many years. We have to recognise the work of Jim Moore and John Moore, the chairmen of the governing bodies, in recent years. Those gentlemen have worked closely together and brought this project to where it is today. I also recognise Patricia Mulcahy and the governing bodies. There was a willingness to do this because they saw the importance of driving and enhancing foreign direct investment in the south east.

Today is not the day to discuss capital investment but I concur with Deputy Ó Cathasaigh's point that this is not just about a name change and that there is a need for investment to drive this project. I know the Minister has stated that and committed to it.

I will be parochial and mention the Wexford campus. Work in that regard is ongoing with Wexford County Council and the Minister's Department in the context of a compulsory purchase order for a site. That is very welcome. There are different parts to that project now, including buying the site and then getting the infrastructure and faculty into the south east. I know the Minister will continue to be committed to this project.

Deputy Ó Cathasaigh referred to the lost generation who had to leave the south east to go to Cork, Dublin, Limerick, Galway, Maynooth or elsewhere for their education. There is an opportunity now for students to remain in the south east and to be educated, live and rear their families there. They did not have that opportunity previously.

The big winner in this will come in the context of driving and enhancing foreign direct investment. IDA Ireland has indicated to me that one of the specific issues in that regard is education and the lack of a university. That will no longer be an issue as we will have a university in the south east. I thank the Minister for his dedication to this project. I also thank the Secretary General and all the officials in his Department.