Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when he will make a decision on the application of Waterford Institute of Technology for upgrading to the university of the south east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40447/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The position is that applications have been received from 3 Institutes of Technology for designation as Universities. 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 have met with all of the Institutes of Technology concerned and I expect that consideration of the applications on hand will be finalised in the near future.