Government 'must act on university for Waterford'
Deputy Brian O'Shea said it is time for the long-promised university to be delivered. He said the campaign has been running now for almost 40 years and conflicting comments from Government officials should not dampen the enthusiasm for a university.
Figures obtained by Mr O'Shea show that while Dublin got €490 million for its colleges and universities last year, Waterford didn't even get a tenth of this.
"The Government's policy on this hugely important issue depends on whether one listens to Minister (Michael) McDowell, Minister (Martin) Cullen, or Minister Mary Hanafin," he said.
"The first two give the impression that university status for Waterford is near at hand, while the Minister for Education (Ms Hanafin) appears to be indicating this status will not be achieved in the foreseeable future.
"Politics are undoubtedly being played with this extremely important issue which is vital for the future development and prosperity of the entire south-eastern region.
"It seems to me that Fianna Fáil and the PDs have no intention of conferring university status on Waterford Institute of Technology. This should be clearly and unambiguously understood. However, it should not deter, in any way, those of us who understand how vital university status for WIT is in terms of bringing about a major enhancement of the economic, cultural, and industrial development of the region.
"No less an authority than Dr Edward Walsh, President Emeritus of the University of Limerick, has stated that the challenge for the State in establishing a university in Waterford should not be significant, either in financial or organisational terms, particularly in light of the major capital investment already made in buildings and infrastructure to support a 6,000-student campus at WIT and a new 150-acre campus at Carriganore."
A recent IBEC South East report highlighted the critical need for a university in Waterford. It showed the proportion of the area's population with a degree or higher is just 6.53%. It also said talent is lost to the region because those looking for a university education have to go beyond the south east.
"A university should be based in Waterford. It would work with industry in the region and optimise the overall education benefit to the south east and feed into the knowledge economy," the report, entitled It's Time for Action, suggested.
The report also said upgrading WIT would provide for the major higher education needs of the people of the region. It said a research-based institution would link into policy, business and entrepreneurial and social systems in the south east and would embed creativity and enterprise in its structures and processes, so as to operate at the boundary of knowledge creation, innovation and development.
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: Waterford Chamber of Commerce president JJ Lodge urged the Government to bring a University to the city.
: The Department of Education told the Waterford News & Star in January that Waterford's Regional Technical College could become a College of Technology and award degrees of full university status.
: Nicholas Fewer became Chamber of Commerce president and promised to vigorously promote Waterford as the base for a Technological University.
: Education Minister Mary O'Rourke scotches suggestions that a university for Waterford was possible in the immediate future.
: Ald Liam Curham said securing a university for the city was among his priorities while first citizen.
: Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern vowed to give the Waterford University Action Group a written commitment that once his party returned to Government, WRTC would become an Institute of Technology.
: the city's new mayor, Cllr Tom Cunningham, highlighted the drive to secure university status for Waterford Institute of Technology as his most pressing priority as first citizen.
: Education Minister Mary Hanafin visits WIT and says university status for WIT is not a priority for this government.
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