Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the funding given last October to the consortium of Limerick Institute of Technology and Athlone Institute of Technology. It allowed for the progression of proposals which the consortium had formally commenced in October 2019. The targeted date for the technological university to open is 1 September 2021. Both institutes of technology voted overwhelmingly in favour of the measures contained in the application for this project. Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin, president of Athlone IT, said:

This is a transformational development for the Midlands, and once it comes to fruition, it will provide significant social and economic benefit to communities across the region and beyond. Becoming a TU will broaden access to higher education and create opportunities in areas that have previously been under served with respect to apprenticeships right through to PhD.

Confirmation that the consortium has finally submitted its application to the Government is a major breakthrough and indicates the project is on course to proceed on 1 September 2021.

Athlone Institute of Technology is home to 6,000 students. More than 11% of the full-time student population is from overseas, with 63 nationalities represented, reflecting the globalised nature of the campus. The institute's global focus is also evident in the 230 partnerships and agreements it has signed with universities and research institutions around the world. Recently, Athlone IT was included for the second consecutive year in the U-Multirank Top 25 Performing Universities in the World in the category of interdisciplinary research. The U-Multirank rankings "show how Irish colleges are performing in comparison to their international counterparts", so Athlone IT is right up there with the top-ranked colleges in the world.

A formal legislative process must now take place but this is an exciting prospect for the midlands and the mid west, particularly for Longford-Westmeath. It can be transformative for the region. The Government has given a commitment to ensure the benefits of higher education and regional development are spread equitably across the country and everyone can avail of the high quality provision that technological universities deliver for students, staff, employers, enterprises and the wider local and regional communities within which they are embedded. The new institution is expected to have a student population of up to 15,000 and a staff complement of approximately 1,200 across the six campuses of Athlone, Limerick, where there will be two campuses, Clonmel, Ennis and Thurles. I hope there will be an opportunity to have a campus in Longford as well. It would be a fantastic asset to Longford and would alleviate the accommodation issue which might arise in Athlone.

An economic impact study commissioned by the consortium found that the combined impact of the two institutions on the Irish economy is close to €420 million and the proposed new institution would support more than 800 jobs, in addition to the staff complement. This is an exciting project for the midlands, the mid west and the Minister of State's local area of Limerick. It is particularly important for our area of Longford-Westmeath. I look forward to meeting representatives of Athlone IT to examine the possibility of a campus in Longford.