Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. That is a welcome development and provides huge potential. However, in the context of Donegal and what was Letterkenny IT, we were here before. Unfortunately matters fell by the wayside. The whole development of the ATU was looking away from the cross-Border element and we need to get back to that. That is why this is a welcome development. I know the Minister said it is not the case but with the formation of the new National Tertiary Office, we want to make sure that we do not go back to looking back from the Border again in the future. No matter what happens, the development for the region is going to take place. That has to be an integral part of this new National Tertiary Office as well. It will have many issues to look at on a national basis but the cross-Border element has to an important and signature part of it. It is not something that can be looked away from at any stage in the future.

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