Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is confusion as between the south east and Wexford because they are two different areas. The south east is probably one of the more deprived regions in the country but Wexford is the most deprived county in the south east. According to the Department's projection, there will be an increase of some 57,000 students seeking full-time education soon, which does not take into account part-time demand or attracting more international students. This is equivalent to four DCUs. Waterford and Carlow have been fighting over which of them should become a university but there is a good argument for starting anew in Wexford. It is an incredibly deprived county with 18.5% on the live register, which is shocking when compared to the national figure. Education is a way out of this and putting a new third level institution in Wexford would make a lot of sense in this context.

Nothing comes cheap but the costs of construction are not the biggest costs. The biggest costs are running it on a day-to-day basis so there is a good argument for putting it in Wexford. I know the national strategy does not think along those lines but that does not mean the Minister should not take a broader view.

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