Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 476: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the time schedule for the proposed review of Section 9 of the Universities Act 1997 as it pertains to the application by Waterford Institute of Technology to be upgraded to university status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18629/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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To date applications have been received to invoke Section 9 of the Universities Act, 1997 from Waterford Institute of Technology, Dublin Institute of Technology and Cork Institute of Technology. These applications raise significant issues regarding Government policy towards higher education, in particular the existing roles of the Universities and Institutes of Technology which have distinctive missions from each other, provide different levels and types of academic programmes, fulfil different roles in the community and have separate academic and governance structures.

I will be reviewing the appropriate next steps in relation to these applications and would intend to present proposals to Government in this regard.