Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 392: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the application of Waterford Institute of Technology for upgrading to the university of the south east (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19286/08]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 426: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will take a decision in principle to approve the application of Waterford Institute of Technology for upgrading to university status which is fully supported by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19679/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 426 together.

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.