Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The report prepared by Dr. Jim Port of J M Consulting on the application from Waterford Institute of Technology for designation as a university under section 9 of the Universities Act 1997, is available on my Department's website since this morning.

I was wondering why the Leas-Cheann Comhairle wanted to get to the question.

Waterford Institute of Technology is a very important institution making a great contribution to education generally and to the economic and social wellbeing of the region. We are considering carefully its request and also that of the Dublin Institute of Technology, to be designated as a university. This issue does not just affect Waterford or DIT, but will have a major impact on the future structure of the higher education system throughout the country.

The Government wants to build on our strengths and to provide an environment where all our higher education institutions can develop in a way that best serves the country as a whole and the regions where they are based. These issues must be central to consideration of the appropriate next steps in respect of both applications which I am examining in conjunction with my Government colleagues.

While Dr. Port's report is specifically on the Waterford application, it also provides a useful analysis of the context in which any application for designation as a university must be considered. I hope the publication of the report will provide an overview of the complex issues involved and encourage an informed debate, both nationally and regionally, on the issue and help inform final consideration of the issues.

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