Seán Connick (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 502: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when the report of a person (details supplied) examining the designation of Waterford Institute of Technology as a university will be published. [25324/07]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 504: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 454 of 16 October 2007, the level of consideration given to date to a report (details supplied) in her Department; when it is expected that the consideration at official level in her Department will conclude and she will have the final report of her officials; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25422/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 502 and 504 together.

Earlier this year the person referred to by the Deputy was asked to provide preliminary advice on the merits of the submission by WIT, having regard to;

(i)the national strategy for the development of Irish higher education,

(ii)implications for regional development in the South-East in the context of the National Spatial Strategy and

(iii)any likely implications for the overall structure of higher education in Ireland. This report is currently under consideration.

Aside from the very detailed statutory review process that is required in progressing an application, there are also significant wider issues that need to be considered in advance of any possible statutory review. For example, there have been important wider policy developments in the overall higher education sector that are relevant in this context. In particular, it is important that account is taken of the very significant recent changes in the overall legislative framework governing Irish higher education, with the commencement of the new Institutes of Technology Act 2006 on 1st February 2007, as well as wider Government policy on foot of the review of Irish higher education carried out by the OECD in 2004, the broad thrust of which was endorsed by the Government.

I am cognisant of the strong support that has been built in the south east region around the application from Waterford IT for university status. However, wider policy developments must also be central to the consideration of the appropriate next steps in relation to the application. WIT's application is currently being carefully assessed in that broad context.