Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 943: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the policy position regarding a university for the south east and in particular if she will publish the report of Dr Port in respect of this matter. [1309/08]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 1025: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the provision that has been made in the 2008 Estimates of her Department in regard to the upgrading of Waterford Institute of Technology to the university of the south east. [2003/08]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 1026: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of official meetings which have taken place to date in 2008 and the dates of the official meetings scheduled to take place in 2008 in her Department in regard to the consideration of the Dr. Jim Port report on the submission by Waterford Institute of Technology to upgrading to university status. [2004/08]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 1036: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she plans to publish the report carried out by Dr. Jim Port in relation to the upgrading of Waterford Institute of Technology to university status; and if so, if same will occur in 2008. [2060/08]

Seán Connick (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1055: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 502 of 23 October 2007, if further consideration has been given to the report of a person (details supplied) examining the designation of Waterford Institute of Technology as a university; when she expects the report to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2452/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 943, 1025, 1026, 1036 and 1055 together.

I appointed Dr. Jim Port in February 2007 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.

There are significant wider policy issues that need to be considered in advance of any possible statutory review and I am currently considering these in the light of Dr Port's report. Consideration of the of the report forms part of the ongoing work of my Department and the question of making provision in the Estimates of my Department does not arise as consideration of the application has not been finalised.