Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. Fifty-five acres is a substantial area for the new Wexford campus. I spoke recently with Professor Veronica Campbell, as the Minister mentioned. I believe she is looking for €7 million to progress the SETU planning application. I heard the Minister say to Deputy Mairéad Farrell that he had allocated €1 million to further applications. Perhaps I have that wrong and the Minister might have been referring only to student accommodation.

Wexford is very close to my heart, apart from the fact that I represent the constituency. The campus itself needs to grow hugely. There are approximately 1,100 students currently on the campus but there are no science, technology, engineering or mathematics, STEM, courses attached. Wexford has been left behind when it comes to foreign direct investment and one of the reasons for that is we do not have immediate access to a research unit. That is what I have been told by certain investors and IDA Ireland. We need to grow the campus with STEM courses.

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