Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I wish to raise the need for the Minister for Education and Science to clarify when he proposes to publish the report from the National Strategy Group on Higher Education, chaired by economist Dr. Colin Hunt.

This strategy group was commissioned over a year ago and the Minister stated in the Dáil on 24 November 2009 that he expected the report to be finalised early in 2010. We are now at the end of February but there is still no sign of the report.

The report will cover many areas of higher education such as funding, resources, student numbers, registration and possibly fees. Third level institutions, development plans and organisational structures will also be covered. The areas I am most interested in are the roles of higher education in developing our economy in the regions and creating employment in the society it serves.

I refer to two items in the terms of reference the strategy group must examine. The second term of reference is the role of Irish higher education in modern society, while the third is to identify the operational framework of the higher education system, including the number and role of institutions within which it will be enabled to deliver on these policy objectives.

I am specifically interested in the application for university status by Waterford Institute of Technology. This strategy the group is working on will guide development for the next 20 years. I am hopeful it will contain a commitment and a delivery timeframe for a university for the south-east region, which has a population of over 460,000.

In February 2006, Waterford Institute of Technology made its university application to the Department of Education and Science. Subsequently the Government commissioned the Port report as an interim measure and since then the national strategy group was established under Dr. Colin Hunt. In the south east, there is a high dependence on manufacturing and construction and Waterford has suffered more than most other regions with regard to job losses. We now need a clear strategy to create employment and a catalyst for such job creation. University designation for Waterford Institute of Technology would be that catalyst.

The Government has prevaricated on this issue since 2006. I remind the Minister of State that the Port report found the economic benefits of university designation for Waterford would, at the least, offset public expenditure. It also found the Waterford application has great merit but, again, there has been no Government action.

For the sake of education, employment and the economic future of the south-east region, I hope Waterford Institute of Technology's application is acknowledged in this report and that it is recommended for university status. The time for reports, committees and talking is over, it is now time for action. We must create jobs in the regions and what better way than designating WIT a university?

I hope the Minister of State will have news on when the higher education strategy will be published. The future for the next 20 years will depend on the development of higher education and its impact on the economy and society.