Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Absolutely. It is key to the success of this project that there be a Wexford campus. That has always been the intention and it needs to happen. The consortium recently designed a change management programme and established a project office with three full-time executives and support staff. That office has been working on making progress and updating the draft application which is now being reviewed in the context of the recent success of the Munster technological university consortium application process. In other words, it is learning from technological universities that have already been through the process.

As evidence of the priority attached to this project, I brought a memorandum to the Government on 22 July, informing the Cabinet on the progression of the TUSEI proposals, the appointment of Mr. Tom Boland and the plans that we wish to put in place to create a real momentum around the project. There have been too many false dawns relating to it. We are still aiming for technological university designation on 1 January 2022. That is the goal and the moment of transformation for the south east. There is a significant amount that I can and will do. I will give it a lot of time and energy. There is also a significant amount that we need the individual institutions and the stakeholders in the south east to do. I know they will undertake that significant body of work. Everyone needs to put their shoulders to the wheel and get a lot of heavy lifting done between now and the end of the year.

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