Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister, Deputy Bruton, to the House.

David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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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.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Cullinane for raising this issue. From my own work in the region I know it is regarded as being pivotal for the long-term development of the south east. To be fair, when the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 was published back in January 2011, there was a clear roadmap as to what needed to be done. The journey was clearly mapped out and it recommended the consolidation of the institutes of technology sector and the creation of a small number of multi-campus technological universities. That is the roadmap that people now need to fulfil.

The process for designation as a technological university, TU, consists of four stages and requires the merger of two or more institutes of technology prior to application for designation as a TU. The technological university for the south-east project was initiated in 2011 and consists of a consortium of Carlow and Waterford institutes of technology. The consortium made good progress initially and submitted a stage 1 expression of interest in 2012. However, following this initial promising start, the consortium encountered a series of challenges and difficulties, and did not succeed in finalising a stage 2 plan prior to the decision by WIT to suspend merger activities in October 2014.

Following meetings with both institutes in early November 2014, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, announced the establishment of a new process of engagement and consultation with the governing bodies, staff and students of both institutes, together with the wider community in the south east. The Minister appointed Mr. Michael Kelly to lead the process of consultation. While a ten-week timeframe was initially set for the process to be completed, the timeframe to completion was extended due to a number of factors, including the change in governing authorities of both institutions at the end of the first quarter of 2015.

The Minister for Education and Skills recently met with Mr. Kelly and received his report on the outcome of the engagement and consultation process. Mr. Kelly has undertaken a thorough and extensive consultation process with regional stakeholders on this important issue. Mr. Kelly met with stakeholders in all counties of the region in the last few months, including local authorities, chambers of commerce, employers, the enterprise development agencies, and social and community croups, as well as public representatives. I understand that some 40 meetings took place and the Minister wants to place on record her

Mr. Kelly presented his report to the Minister on 2 July last. Following receipt of that report, the Minister discussed it with Cabinet colleagues. She subsequently met with the presidents and chairpersons of both institutions on 21 July to discuss the findings and recommendations in the report. The report was published on 27 July.

As outlined at the time of publication, it was agreed that a plan for a process of preliminary facilitation would be developed by mid-August for consideration at ITC and WIT governing body meetings planned for the end of August. The facilitation process is the first step recommended by Mr. Kelly in order to assist with building mutual trust and respect between the two institutions. The governing bodies of both institutions held meetings at the end of August and agreed to engage in the proposed facilitation process, which is now under way. The Minister is pleased to report that there has been very good engagement in the facilitation process by the presidents and chairpersons of both institutions to date. This is an important building block for future collaboration. The Minister expects this facilitation process to be completed before year end.

The Minister believes there is a compelling rationale for a new type of higher education institution to support the economic and social development of the entire south-east region and this is clearly the wish of stakeholders in the region. The Government is committed to supporting the development of such an institution. The Senator can see from this reply that the Minister for Education and Skills has been very active in seeking to get this issue across the line. The work in this respect is ongoing.

David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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It is obviously good and useful that both institutes are at least talking and that some progress is being made, if I am to take the Minister's word at face value. I am sure that some progress has been made. I have spoken to people in both institutes on numerous occasions, as well as other stakeholders mainly in Waterford but also in the wider region. The problem is that while they may be talking and there might be some progress, in the absence of a visible plan and model it is difficult to see how we can get to the end product.

The Minister is correct in saying that there is a legislative process in place which enables institutes to merge. That is fair enough and they are the nuts and bolts of how a merger can be created. We should ask what this technological university will mean for the south east, what model it will be, what type of courses it will deliver and where the main campus will be. All these issues are not there, however, so people do not see the big picture. Maybe that is one of the reasons we have these stumbling blocks because there will obviously be tensions within both institutes. In the absence of a clearly worked out model on the table, I would fear for the future of this project, although I am hugely supportive of it. I want to see it getting over the line, the same as everybody else. We all do, but we are nearly five years into this Government's term of office and unfortunately we cannot say that we are close to the end by any stretch of the imagination. I am not saying that all, or even any of it, is the Government's fault, but I am saying that there are clear problems. In my view, the biggest problem is that there is an absence of an actual model. Until we get that model, which may have to come from both institutes, I do not think people will have confidence that it will in fact be delivered.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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First of all, the two institutions have been very important in this regard. I have worked to try to drive employment creation in the region. It is gratifying to see that in the last three years 24,000 extra people are at work in the south east.

I have also worked with both colleges in supporting new enterprises - one in China with Carlow Institute of Technology, and several from Waterford Institute of Technology.They offer great technology and great support to enterprise.

Ultimately, a marriage is about the meeting of two sides and about people having a degree of consensus and understanding that their relationship is a working one. I have just been going through Mr. Michael Kelly's report and he has set out that this can be delivered within three years. As a result, there is an ambition or a roadmap, as the Senator described it, in place. Mr. Kelly is highly committed and he made a huge effort to bring this together but this process must go through a systematic route and it has to be something that endures and adds value in the region. To be fair, in the context of the work that has been done by all players, a route has emerged but moving forward will require everyone working together. One thing I have discovered from working in respect of the south east is that bringing people together is an important part of lifting a region. This is one of the areas in which - just as we did elsewhere - we seek to work to build new collaborations. I am optimistic for the south east and this is an important element but it must be done right and on a sustainable basis, which the Senator recognises. I will convey his concern to the Minister but people are putting in a significant effort to make this work.