Lecturers at institutes of technology have voted for a deal with colleges and the Department of Education that should clear the way for new laws allowing the creation of technological universities.

The high standards that colleges will have to meet to become a technological university mean it could be at least two years before any such institution is created.

THE Government has agreed to fund a major new education initiative which will see new linkages between the University of Limerick (UL), and other third-level institutions in Limerick and Tralee.