James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

SETU, in terms of technological universities, has received significant support from my Department. Most recently both Waterford and Carlow were included in bundle two of the PPP projects delivering significant additional learning spaces and physical buildings. The Deputy and I want Wexford to benefit from the same. The next stage of the process is for the notice of entry to enter onto the lands, which would give Wexford County Council the right to take possession of the site. Ordinarily that takes place after the compensation amount has been agreed - in other words, when the price has been agreed. It can then move to notice of entry. That allows it to go on site and begin to make further plans. I am told that SETU requires access to the site to finalise the masterplan. It said that without access to the site there is a limit to how far it can go with its detailed designs. It has a submitted a preliminary business case for the infrastructure, but it has caveated that by saying there is a need for it to go on site, enter the site and walk the land to get a better handle on it and finalise that. The next step of notice of entry rests with Wexford County Council. It may not wish to serve it until the price is agreed and things are finalised because it will become liable for interest from the minute it issues that.

I can understand why there might be some hesitation but if Wexford County Council moves that forward, then everything else begins to progress.

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