Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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523. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the development of the proposed technological university in the south east. [2547/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Government is committed to delivering a wide ranging reform programme in higher education to enhance the quality of research, teaching and engagement. Restructuring the system and in particular the establishment of Technological Universities forms a key part of the reform programme.

As you are aware, recently Waterford IT announced that they were suspending moves towards merger with IT Carlow, which could lead to the creation of a Technological University in the South East. The Government has reiterated its commitment to the creation of a multi-campus Technological University of the South East, as outlined in the Programme for Government. The process and criteria to attain this new status were published in early 2012.

Before Christmas, I announced a new process to reinvigorate the technological university of the South East project. Mr. Michael Kelly is leading a process of consultation with regional stakeholders, the governing bodies, staff and students in Waterford Institute of Technology and Carlow Institute of Technology in order to develop a shared vision for a technological university in the South East.

As former Chairman of the Higher Education Authority, Mr. Kelly is very well known within the sector. He has also played a leading role chairing the consortium which is seeking to establish a Technological University in the Dublin region, and so has an in-depth knowledge of what is needed to create such an institution. Mr. Kelly is due to report early in 2015.