Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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94. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding progress on the establishment of the Technological University for the South East Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6255/22]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will report on the progress of establishing the Technological University for the South East Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6114/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 98 together.

On 3 February I notified the chairs of the governing bodies of Institute of Technology Carlow and Waterford Institute of Technology that I had made by final decision to grant the applicant institutes an order establishing a technological university in the South East following a rigorous assessment process. The new higher education institution will be known as South East Technological University. Subject to the completion of the requisite legislative and administrative requirements arising from this decision, all parties are working towards an establishment date for the new TU of 1 May 2022, meaning those students graduating from the current applicant institutes will do so with university qualifications.

An open public process seeking nominations for the positions of Chairperson and two ordinary members of the first governing body of the new TU has been run by my Department and I am currently considering a number of shortlisted candidates presented to me under this process.

The relevant applicant institutes are currently progressing an open competition to identify and put forward a suitably qualified candidate to myself as Minister for designation as the first president of the TU in accordance with section 56 of the 2018 Act.