Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Bill as written means that an institute cannot advance unless it amalgamates. It does not reward WIT for the work that it has done. It is forcing an amalgamation. If it happens and if it will be to the benefit of the region I will support it because the region does need a university but, as the legislation is being brought forward, I am putting it on the record that Waterford Institute of Technology already attains the standards.As evidence of the suspicions I have had in this regard for many years, I would mention that when it was decided in the late 1990s to elevate the then Waterford Regional Technical College to institute of technology status, all the other regional technical colleges around the country were subsequently elevated to institute of technology status as well. I believe this took from the merit and the benefit of the college at that time. I am afraid this will happen again. I think it is the wrong way to advance. We have to differentiate. Even in primary school, education deals with differentiation. I think we should do it at third level as well. We should reward attainment and high standards. I know the Bill means to do that. We should not be bringing everybody up for the sake of it. We should not be forcing amalgamations for the sake of them.