Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Technological University of the South East, TUSE, consortium has received total funding of some €0.57 million to date.

Last month a further €0.15 million was allocated to the consortium. Specific activities being progressed currently include a review of human resources processes etc.

The Deputy is aware that the Institute of Technology Carlow has a Wexford campus based in Wexford town, which offers an extensive range of award qualifications from level 6 through to postgraduate level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications. It is important to note that the number of students enrolled at the Wexford campus in 2016 was 766. This figure should not be dismissed in any way. In addition to programmes run by Waterford IT and Carlow IT, learners can access online programmes provided by other institutions.

The Department has been very supportive of the proposed acquisition by IT Carlow of a particular site in Wexford for the development of a new purpose-built campus. Funding has been allocated to enable IT Carlow to acquire this site. The Department has now been informed, however, of a decision by the vendor to withdraw from the sale of that site. The Department is assessing the situation and will work with IT Carlow on how best to progress its development needs in Wexford.

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