Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome last week's announcement of the establishment of a technological university, TU, in our region of the west and north west. One of the beautiful things about this proposed TU is that it is a multi-campus university. There are now university towns throughout the region, from Castlebar to Galway city, Killybegs, Letterfrack, Letterkenny, Mountbellew and Sligo. A unique aspect of this TU, and one that will enhance the offering in the region, will be the ability of students to obtain a technical university qualification and, all going well, which I expect it will, the fact that students graduating next year in the existing institutes of technology, ITs, will do so with a TU degree. That is a wonderful acknowledgement of the process of the TUs.

I acknowledge the dedicated National Centre for Excellence in Furniture Design and Technology in Letterfrack, whose present campus has a great reputation, and the fact that Letterfrack will also be a university town. That is a wonderful achievement. It will increase higher education access, drive enhanced regional development and increase opportunities for students, staff, business and enterprise, and local communities. It is a wonderful acknowledgement of the process and I welcome last week's announcement by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, and the engagement across the political spectrum that took place with the constituent ITs of Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, GMIT, Sligo and Letterkenny. It is a wonderful day for the west and north-west region.

I have previously raised the issue of funding of local authorities. As a former member of Galway County Council, the continued funding issues within that council, in particular, are evident. People of all parties are aware of the issues. It is not just me as a politician saying it. Officials within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage acknowledge the funding model is broken, especially as it relates to Galway, which is a county with a large geographical area, population and coastline, with offshore islands. The model is broken. The officials stated it would be fixed or, at least, somewhat repaired by the review of the local property tax, LPT, which is ongoing. I ask for a debate on the issue of funding for local authorities.I am especially parochial. I know other local authorities also have an issue but it is an issue in Galway in particular. They are in dire straits, especially in this coming budget. The distance between the decision to increase or not increase a LPT and the final allocations from the Departments post the passing of a budget in October is too long. The allocation should come first and then the council and members should be able to decide whether to increase the LPT in response to that. I ask for a debate with the Minister.