Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

What the Senator has suggested sounds entirely logical to me. This decision, obviously, will be made by the TU governing authority but as I have said clearly, the speculation around Kilkenny is baseless and idle. It is misinformed, unhelpful and potentially divisive at a crucial moment for this project.

There have been many false dawns for this university in the south east. I am refusing to allow us to be sidetracked. The first part of the process has to be to get the application in, appoint the independent panel and get it over the line, and then have a technological university for the south east that will open its doors on 1 January next year. I have been clear about the speculation over a headquarters in Kilkenny.

There is absolutely no question about the centrality of Waterford to this undertaking. The project would not be possible without the centrality of Waterford. Equally, it would not be possible to do it alone. We need to work together and IT Carlow is playing a major role in this, as is all of the south east. It is my clear intention to use the establishment of this university to expand the imprint of higher education in Waterford. The Taoiseach also said that in the Dáil last week. We are going to make Waterford bigger and better for higher education. I will keep in touch with the Senator on this matter.