Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her comprehensive reply. I think she acknowledges that the south east and Carlow have suffered quite a bit and have been playing catch-up compared with other areas in the country. I also acknowledge and agree with her point that education is a key driver in the region. It is disappointing that the technological university for the south east project has slowed down, if I may put it that way. I am hopeful that progress will be made in the area very shortly. It is essential that the project moves on at pace in the coming period. It is not for want of political pressure that it has slowed down but it needs to move on now. I encourage those who are involved in the project to move it on in order that we may have the process in place by the academic year beginning September.

From time to time, people in Carlow feel, because of the county's geographic location in the northern part of the south east, that it tends to lose out. The northern part is in no man's land to a certain extent - in limbo perhaps. Should it be considered as being in the south east, the midlands region, the wider Dublin region or somewhere else? From time to time, there is a feeling in Carlow that it is not getting its fair crack of the whip in this regard. We have also seen the slow progress being made on the IDA Ireland advanced facility in recent times. It was supposed to be developed in 2019, which is not looking likely at this stage. Perhaps the Minister could give us an update on that as well. Its development would be a key indicator of progress going forward.

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