Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

A little ripple of excitement went through Waterford and the south east last weekend when the Taoiseach and Tánaiste visited. Expectations remain sky-high, mainly built up by the Taoiseach, that South East Technological University, SETU, will meet the need of the south-east region for a university by adding new capacity and programmes. The past three programmes for Government, in 2011, 2016 and 2020, specifically prioritised the development of higher education in the south east. It is troubling and surprising that no new teaching buildings have commenced construction in Waterford this millennium. As the Taoiseach knows, the planning permission for SETU's engineering building, which is in bundle 2, expires this summer. That will create obvious difficulties.

This project, which was first announced in 2008, has been announced and re-announced periodically, not least by the Taoiseach. Is the engineering PPP going to go ahead this summer, and before the Government calls time, or is it dead in the water?

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