Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with all of that. I hope the Deputy can take some encouragement not just from what I say but, more importantly, from what ATU is telling me. It is highlighting tourism education and training as a key role for Killybegs. It acknowledges that the campus there has a long tradition of excellence in the area and talks about anticipating development in food science in Killybegs given its location and access to raw materials such as marine protein. It is also talking about the Killybegs marine cluster and its role, and that of Letterkenny Institute of Technology before that in working as part of that culture to develop further partnerships and the work they are doing with Enterprise Ireland in that area.

From what I am hearing from ATU, I am very satisfied that it is very clear on the important role Killybegs campus is playing and will play and it looks to me as though ATU is envisaging a much bigger role as it develops. The strategic plan is the first opportunity to publicly knit together the new technological university and satisfy public representatives and the people of Killybegs and Donegal of their place in this new educational landscape.

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