Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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274. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made on the acquisition of a site for the Wexford campus of the Technological University of South East Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37071/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The IT Carlow Wexford campus has been in operation since 1995. The current campus facilities consist of two separate rented sites which offer little opportunity for expansion. It has been a long term ambition of IT Carlow to secure a more suitable permanent campus site in Wexford. In the broader context of higher education progression and integration in the South East this is an objective I strongly support.

Should the application made by IT Carlow and WIT to establish a multi-campus TU serving the South East ultimately prove to be successful then any new campus of IT Carlow located in Wexford would, in turn, become a campus of the designated Technological University.

I can confirm that IT Carlow submitted an updated business case to the HEA earlier this year for a site purchase in Wexford. After a review of the business case, the HEA Board approved the proposal, including the value for money parameters. The proposal has been further approved by me and by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, in line with the THEA Code of Governance, which applies to Institutes of Technology.

IT Carlow is now engaged in efforts to secure a site in line with the agreed parameters and has been liaising with Wexford County Council who are very supportive of the planned development.

The Deputy will appreciate that, as the site acquisition process is ongoing, the details are commercially sensitive. However, I can assure the Deputy that every effort is being made to bring this matter to a conclusion as soon as possible.