Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for attending to deal with this matter. It concerns an issue of regional importance that will not go away until it is dealt with adequately. I call on the Minister for Education and Science to publish without delay the independent report carried out by Dr. Jim Port on the application for university status of Waterford Institute of Technology.

It is well established that the south east is underperforming economically by comparison with other regions. While there are excellent third level education facilities in the region, there is a widespread view that the lack of a university is reflected in the lower-than-average participation rate in education, the higher-than-average graduate migration rate from the region and the lower-than-average level of research and development activity in the region. These trends can be reversed and this would lead to better and balanced regional development through expanding the innovative potential of the region with the establishment of a regional university in Waterford city.

The OECD education review of 2004 stated there should be no further universities established for the foreseeable future. The more recent OECD annual report, Education at a Glance, states more widespread university education yields more prosperous economies and provides rich rewards in the labour market for those who graduate. Across 25 OECD countries, those with university degrees and advanced research education had earnings at least 50% higher than individuals whose highest levels of educational attainment was below the upper secondary level. For these very reasons, Waterford and the south east are at a clear disadvantage in attracting high-value and research-based jobs.

Waterford Institute of Technology made a comprehensive application for university status to the Department of Education and Science. Dr. Port, after his appointment, consulted the relevant stakeholders and has long since completed his assessment of the application. It has been with the Department for many weeks but there is no word or recommendation forthcoming. A response is long overdue. Fianna Fáil made clear commitments in its election manifesto to support the granting of university status to the institute and we now need to see these commitments honoured.

I am interested in hearing the Minister's view on this report and on when we can expect the application to enter the formal statutory review process, which is the next critical step. The educational and economic future of an entire region depends on this issue being addressed as rapidly as possible. If the Government is serious about the application, it should include it in the statutory process without delay.