Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 465: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a decision will be reached on the application of Waterford Institute of Technology for upgrading to the university of the south east by 31 December 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45341/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The position is that applications have been received from three higher education institutions for designation as Universities. These applications raise significant issues regarding Government policy towards higher education, in particular regarding 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 each of the three institutions concerned and I expect that consideration of the applications on hand will be finalised in the near future.