The likelihood of the first technological university (TU) being established in Dublin should be known by the end of summer.

The rapid establishment of technological universities (TU) is not guaranteed by last week’s passing of enabling legislation, the head of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) has cautioned.

There is uncertainty about when third-level colleges can become technological universities (TUs) but the Government insists some will be in place by the end of the year.

Cork and Tralee institutes of technology plan to spend part of a €70,000 branding budget to assess if they should change the name of the technological university to be created by their merger.

Getting hot under the collars of their tunics and neckerchiefs were 27 young chefs from second-level schools throughout Munster, bound by their passion for food and their ambition to take part in the 2016/17 Flogas Ireland and Fáilte Ireland Apprentice Chef Programme.

2016 was a pivotal year for construction activity in Cork and nationwide, up by 15% for the year ended, while further growth of up to 20% is expected locally and nationally in 2017, say international asset managers and professional advisory firm AECOM.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

Cork Institute of Technology lecturers are seeking to be allowed step up industrial action as management plans to merge with another college despite no legal requirement to do so.

Several important education agencies and colleges have had no board or no chairman for several months, in some cases for over a year.

The National Council for Special Education has had no board since the previous 13-member board’s term ended at the end of last year.

Tralee Institute of Technology in Co Kerry has introduced a free online resource, Taste of Science, to give small and medium-sized food producers a competitive edge by keeping them posted on new trends, scientific knowledge and technological developments.

Schools or other employers who fail to prioritise part-time teachers to fill vacancies face the prospect of being named and shamed by a teacher union.

Ambitious plans by the Institute of Technology Tralee to increase student numbers envisages the shedding of its south campus in the Kerry town.

A ministerial-appointed troubleshooter has failed to broker agreement between Carlow and Waterford institutes of technology on merging, to assist a possible creation of a university in the south-east.

Introducing dynamic new technology to the physiotherapist patient relationship, Kerry start up Salaso is gaining traction in the UK market.

Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan has asked management at Cork and Tralee institutes of technology to keep up consultation with staff who are concerned over their planned merger.

Academic staff have welcomed decisions of two institutes of technology not to speed up a planned merger but will still vote on possible industrial action over the move.

The governing bodies of Cork and Tralee institutes of technology met yesterday to decide whether to speed up a merger necessary to apply for technological university status.

A showdown with staff looks increasingly likely at two Munster institutes of technology as a union prepares to ballot lecturers for industrial action if a proposed merger goes ahead.

Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan says she cannot get involved in the dispute in which lecturers at institutes of technology in Cork and Tralee are moving towards industrial action over a planned merger.

Lecturers are threatening industrial action over concerns about the planned merger of institutes of technology in Cork and Tralee for a university application.

The Institute of Technology Tralee and Cork Institute of Technology will proceed to the next stage of creating the Munster Technological University.

Former Kerry strength and conditioning coach Pat Flanagan is to be confirmed as part of the Cork footballers’ backroom team in the coming days.

If Mike Frank Russell knows Jim McGuinness like he thinks he does, then the Donegal manager will have a plan of action for dealing with Colm Cooper in the All-Ireland final.

Business groups in Kerry have begun a campaign to maintain Government support for the daily Kerry to Dublin air service.

The board of Cork Institute of Technology has decided to appoint college president Dr Brendan Murphy for another five years — almost eight months before his term ends.

The planned creation of a Munster Technological University in Cork and Tralee would have major benefits for the region, Cork Institute of Technology president Brendan Murphy has said.

Protesting students warned they could not afford to eat three meals a day and so another cut to grants could not be contemplated in this month’s budget.

Teagasc has named new agricultural colleges principals — Majella Moloney in Teagasc Agricultural College, Clonakilty, Co Cork; and John Kelly in Teagasc Agricultural College, Ballyhaise, Co Cavan.

A new chairman of Institute of Technology Tralee has yet to be appointed by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn, 12 weeks after Flan Garvey announced he would be stepping down from job.

A review of expenses systems at institutes of technology is to examine how much was paid to governing body members since 2009.

Institute of Technology Tralee chairman, Flan Garvey, who had a plagiarism finding against him overturned on appeal, is to quit almost three years before his term ends.

Ireland’s qualifications watchdog is to carry out a statutory review of the validation processes for postgraduate research degrees at Institute of Technology Tralee in light of the “unintentional” plagiarism in a thesis by the chairperson of the Institute’s governing body.

There is growing pressure on Flan Garvey, chairman of the Institute of Technology Tralee, after lecturers voted through their union that it is not in the college’s best interest for him to continue in the role.

The chair of Institute of Technology Tralee’s governing body may soon have to review his position after being embroiled in controversy over high expenses payments and a plagiarism investigation, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has indicated.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn is awaiting a response from Institute of Technology Tralee (ITT) on the outcome of an investigation of plagiarism against its own chairman.

An external investigation has found that Institute of Technology Tralee (ITT) chairman Flan Garvey committed unintentional plagiarism in a 2008 master’s thesis but this has been overturned on a technical appeal.

A film comparing speedy drinkers to runners who race ahead of others but eventually collapse has won a pair of prizes for students of Institute of Technology Tralee.

Staff at Institute of Technology Tralee are said to be in shock that anyone who leaked details of a plagiarism complaint against the college chairperson might face disciplinary action.