Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

In the years between 1991 and 2001, per capita income in the south east fell from 91.1% to 85.3% of the State average. The region's record in attracting and stimulating knowledge-based industries is also lower than the State average. Just 30.4% of employment in the region is in the modern export sector, compared to the national average of 38.4%. Some 19.7% of the workforce in the south east has a third level qualification, compared to the national average of 26%. Waterford is the only gateway city without a university. Its annual investment in higher education is substantially behind the other gateway cities.

Waterford Institute of Technology, which has more than 10,500 full-time and part-time students, has built a stock of intellectual capital and infrastructure that could be easily reconfigured to university level without significant cost or delay. It is comparable in size to many universities. The breadth of study offered by Waterford Institute of Technology is substantial and diverse. It spans disciplines such as the arts and humanities, social science, education, business and management, information technology, science, health sciences, architecture and engineering.

The 2005 Goodbody report suggested that Waterford Institute of Technology, under its current structure, will make no additional contribution to the region over the next five years. The report argued that the upgrading of the institute to university status would result in the creation of almost 750 high-skilled jobs and lead to an additional annual inflow of up to €80 million per annum into the region. The overall conclusion of the report is that significant value, in terms of economic and social development, would accrue from the investment that would be necessitated by the designation of Waterford Institute of Technology as a university. University designation would provide for a stronger and more competitive cutting edge, beyond that which the institute can achieve within its current boundaries.

I ask the Minister of State to outline the current status of Waterford Institute of Technology's application for redesignation as the university of the south east. What further steps are required before such a redesignation can take place? What timescale is envisaged for the realisation by the region of its true potential, in terms of having its own university? I hope the Minister of State will not give us any more pious platitudes or announce that more reports will be undertaken. He should concentrate on specifics in his reply because we are tired of generalities, nods and winks and the muddying of the waters with bland statements. Waterford and the south east as a whole need to know where they stand in this regard. I hope the Minister of State will clarify the matter.