Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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70. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the process and timeline for the appointment of the remaining members of the governing authority of the South East Technological University; the process and timeline for the appointment of the president of the university; the capital plans pertaining to the establishment of the new technological university; if the project remains on course to reach the 1 May 2022 designation date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12705/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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On 21 February 2022, I announced the appointment of the chairperson and two ordinary members of the first governing body of the new TU, following an open competition. I have appointed Dr Patrick Prendergast, former Provost of Trinity College Dublin, as chairperson. Mr Jim Bergin, CEO of Glanbia, and Ms Ruth Beadle, who holds a key leadership role at Sanofi, are the two ordinary members appointed. In addition, a nomination has been sought from the three relevant regional Education and Training Boards to complete the first governing body.

Upon the establishment of the TU, the first governing body then has six months in accordance with the provisions of the Technological Universities Act 2018 in which to fill the entirety of the governing body by undertaking the relevant elections and appointments processes.

With regard to the appointment of the first President, I have requested the Chairs of Institute of Technology, Carlow and Waterford Institute of Technology to undertake an open public competition to identify a suitable candidate to present to me for designation as first president. It is the governing body of the established TU that subsequently formally appoints the designated candidate. 

Capital  investment in support of the new TU includes the following:

- A new Engineering, Computing and General Teaching building at Waterford IT Campus,

- A new Science and Health Building is planned at IT Carlow,

The Waterford Institute of Technology project is the largest in the current Higher Education PPP Programme.  Construction on both projects is anticipated to commence in Q1 2023 and to be completed by Q2 2025.

All parties are continuing to work towards TU establishment on 1 May 2022 and my officials are currently working with colleagues in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and the Houses of the Oireachtas to prepare the necessary legislative and administrative processes in that context.