David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the Minister and thank him for taking this important motion, even though it does not fall into his portfolio.I am glad the Minister has taken this Commencement matter because he has taken a hands-on approach to what has been happening in the south east in recent years with the jobs action plan and the south-east action plan as well. The Minister will be aware of the importance of the need for a technological university for the south east. I am sure that in all the consultations he has had in the area and the region generally, the need for that university to be put in place comes up every time. It is seen by all the policymakers and stakeholders, including captains of industry, the business community generally, trade unions and those within the institutes of technology, that this clearly needs to happen for the region. By having a university the south east would then be on a level playing field. It is a vital cog in the region in terms of economic development and it needs to be delivered.

The problem is that the Government strategy up to now has been dogged with problems, delays and disagreements - some of them internal in the region while others are external. At times there has been chaos. The whole project came to a halt last year and then we had the appointment of Professor Michael Kelly and subsequently the publication of the Kelly report. We were led to believe that the report would offer a roadmap and some sort of direction on how we could get to the end product, which is a technological university for the south east.

I am very supportive of a technological university and have backed that strategy from day 1. As the Minister knows, in 2012, I published a report on the issue. I was involved in consultations across the region and heard at first-hand the desire, need and support for such a university. I hate to say this but at this point we do not seem to have a clear plan, model, the necessary engagement, or the required buy-in. I do not see that buy-in coming either from the Department or the Higher Education Authority. There is a clear problem in that it is all very abstract. We all know that we want a technological university but there is no vision or model that people can buy into. Without such a model it is more difficult to convince people in the Carlow and Waterford institutes of technology who might be hostile or negative towards the creation of a technological university. It gives them the excuse when we do not have a tangible model that people can see. What we need is a new university, but such a model is simply not there.

I am seeking an update from the Minister as to where exactly the strategy currently is. Do we have any indication as to a roadmap, timeframes or when we will arrive at the final destination? Many people are sceptical about all this and it is not even seen in the context of a broken Government promise; it is a question of whether or not the region and the other stakeholders from the Department and the HEA are really committed to making this happen. Are they committed to bringing it to life and ensuring that the region will have a university?

I do not want to place all the problems on the Minister's shoulders or the Government generally because there are many different issues at play here. We need to name them and to be clear about where the problems lie. We also need to have a clear roadmap, plan and model. Unfortunately, however, I do not see them at this point. Perhaps the Minister can give us a positive update today on where things are. I look forward to his response.