Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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With the permission of the House, I would like to share time with Deputy Conway, who has been working closely with me on this issue.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Is that agreed? Agreed.

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge that for the first time in the programme for Government, there is a clear commitment to explore the establishment of a university for the south east. In response to a parliamentary question two months ago, the Minister stated that the establishment of a technological university will require new legislation and will require detailed performance criteria for the designation process. That is the reason I raise this matter on the Adjournment today. The Minister recognises that a pathway is open to Waterford Institute of Technology and Carlow Institute of Technology to pursue a technological university for the south east.

Waterford Institute of Technology has already done much groundwork in this area and it has achieved very high standards by any international measure. It is ready and willing to engage in this process. An independent report commissioned by the previous Government - the Port report - outlines the merits of this case. It is essential now that the necessary criteria are published as soon as possible to allow full engagement and give clear direction to all stakeholders in this process. There is a very strong political will across all parties in the south east to achieve this objective. There is strong collaboration between Waterford IT and Carlow IT. There is an intention to have a multi-campus university in the south east which can expand to the other counties. Deputies from all counties in the south east and from all parties are very anxious that this process would progress as soon as possible.

The south east is the only region without a university and this is reflected in the higher than national average unemployment figure, which lies at 18.5%. There are fewer graduates in the region when compared with other areas. The south-east university does not have to aspire to duplicate existing universities. Both WIT and Carlow IT have all the courses and the capacity to meet the third level requirements of university status. We now need urgently from the Government the criteria, the legislation and the support to allow this to happen.

Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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I thank Deputy Coffey for allowing me speak on this issue. It is an issue that I support fully. We have promised in the programme for Government to examine the establishment of a university in the south east. Over the past few years, campaigners in Waterford and in the south-east region have put a great deal of time, effort and money into the bid to gain university status for Waterford IT. Despite a very strong campaign, it seems that the groups have drawn a frustrating blank, as decisions were delayed and a key report in the issue was only released in the dying days of the last Government. Now we have an opportunity to shine the spotlight on the matter once again, and the issue of a technological university is coming into focus.

There seems to be confusion as to what exactly a technological university is, as there is no internationally recognised and agreed definition. This is why I support a call for the criteria defining technical or technological university to be brought forward as soon as possible. It is important that any changes in the status to WIT or any other IT do not make the institute any less accessible to local students. Access to good, quality education locally is vital and this has been one of the strengths of institutes of technology. They do not exclude students who might be seen as less academic, but provide top quality education and training for all students, while offering the chance to progress as far as PhD level if desired.

Research shows that students who go to college are less likely to come home to settle after they have graduated. This is why we need students to have the opportunity to obtain the quality qualifications at home. Brain drain will not help us create jobs in the south east. Figures released this week show that unemployment is again growing in Waterford and in the south east. This needs to be tackled as a matter of urgency.

The sooner we bring forward the criteria for defining a technological university, the sooner institutes like WIT can capitalise on increased funding and research opportunities that a designation of this kind would bring. Having said that, any new criteria must emphasise the highest standards in accountability so that moneys are spent in ways that are prudent and which benefit education and research, rather than on cosmetic enterprises.

Ultimately, whatever changes are proposed must be meaningful and helpful and must build on the great work done by all those associated with Waterford Institute of Technology. We do not want this to be a case of giving something a new coat of paint and a new name for the sake of it. We want to see the technological university brought to the south east so that our graduates and young people can work and remain there.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills. I thank Deputy Coffey for raising this matter and Deputy Conway for her contribution.

The question of the establishment of a university in the south east must be considered within the overall reform agenda for the higher education system, outlined in the national strategy for higher education to 2030, which is now the blueprint for further development of the sector. I am also cognisant of the commitment in the programme for Government that "we will explore the establishment of a multi-campus technical university in the south east."

The Minister agrees with the analysis and conclusion of the national strategy for higher education to 2030 that there is no case for the creation of any new universities on the basis set out in section 9 of the Universities Act 1997.

However, the Minister also believes that the development of a small number of technological universities, of equal status and of significant strength and quality, with their own legislative framework and a distinct mission that is faithful to the ethos of the technological sector, would complement our existing universities in meeting the full range of needs of students and wider society. There is strong merit in the development pathway that has been laid out in the strategy for the creation of technological universities. It is important that any process of re-designation focuses on the capacity of amalgamated institutes of technology to meet mission-relevant performance demands.

Already, the system is moving to respond to the recommendations of the strategy in a dynamic and organic way. The driving force behind any discussions should be sustainability and excellence. Institutes should take time and care to ensure that the choices they make are in the broader public interest as well as in the interests of the institution. Central to ensuring a designation process with integrity and credibility will be strong and relevant criteria against which proposals for designation can be rigorously assessed and that will maintain and enhance the necessary diversity in the system.

To build on the parameters and principles laid out in the national strategy regarding the evolutionary pathway for the institutes of technology, international higher education expert Dr. Simon Marginson was commissioned by the Department of Education and Skills to consider the establishment of benchmarks for re-designation, informed by international developments in this field as well as by the Irish context. The Department has now received his input, and the Minister has asked the HEA, in its statutory advisory capacity, to engage in a focused consultation on the draft criteria. We look forward to its response in the coming weeks. It is intended to publish the criteria when they have been finalised so that institutes of technology will have early direction on the expected demands for designation, enabling them to consider appropriate amalgamation options and prepare for future performance requirements.

I have noted the comments of the Deputies and I will happily pass them on to the Minister. I hope that on the publication of the report there will be an opportunity to discuss this again. I again thank the Deputy for raising the matter.