David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for that response. Would he agree with me that there is a different energy and focus in respect of the technological universities versus the traditional universities? I am not saying there is not also a focus and energy in those institutions because there is. There is, however, a differentiation in this regard between the two types of institution. Will the Minister outline what this differentiation is? Is he working to ensure it persists? In other words, is he working to ensure we will not have the technological universities morphing into a traditional type of university? The technological universities are separate and have a different type of energy. Will the Minister comment on, for example, the National Maritime College of Ireland, NMCI, which is close to my constituency? I refer to the great potential there to develop the skill sets required in the offshore wind energy sector etc. This college is part of the MTU. As the Minister also said in his earlier response, this college is also different in its own way and deserves focus and support because, as Deputy Matthews said earlier, we need to develop the skill sets required in the offshore wind energy sector. This is an exciting development but without institutions like the NMCI retaining their current focus and getting the support to do so, then we could slip in this regard.

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