Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Griffin not just for the question but also for his support and work on the delivery of this technological university, not just in recent months but over a sustained period with my predecessor, Deputy McHugh, and others. This is a potential game changer for the south west of our country. The opening of Ireland's newest technological university on 1 January, just days away now, will mean that, for the first time ever, Tralee will be a university town. It will mean that people will be able to access university education in County Kerry. That will be a game changer. There are mums and dads who can now talk to their children about being able to stay in the county. We know that the longer people stay in their county, the more likely they are to continue to strengthen their links there, to put down new links and to start their own families. This is important for the regeneration or rejuvenation of any of our counties.

This is also a game changer for the skills agenda and being able to work with local businesses, local industry, to identify the skills we need to keep Kerry, the south west and the region competitive. Where are the jobs of the future, and how can we work with industry to make sure we provide those courses in the region? I had an excellent meeting with the regional skills forums, chaired by the CEO of Fexco, a company I visited with the Deputy a number of years ago. It is a really big Irish-owned multinational company that is committed to working with us to make sure we continue to support jobs and investment in the region. The Munster technological university will be such a significant development. It will be only the second technological university in the State and the first outside of Dublin. We know that by IT Tralee working with Cork Institute of Technology, the sum of the parts will be much more beneficial than any individual part.

MTU will benefit the region by offering a deep and broad range of teaching at all levels of the National Framework of Qualifications, from an apprenticeship to a doctoral degree. That will be available in Kerry from January. MTU will also support an increased intensity of research activity. I really look forward to visiting Munster technological university with the Deputy in January.

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