Calls for a university for South East

A HIGHLY successful business leader responsible for Waterford’s largest private employer has added his voice to growing calls for the granting of designation to Waterford Institute of Technology to allow it to become the University of the South East.

Bausch & Lomb vice-president Frank O’Regan, a native of Cork, said the issue now leads the agenda for Waterford and the South East region.

“In business, we are particularly keen to see the establishment of a multi-campus university across the South East that can act as a driver of regional growth and help the South East to catch up on regions that have performed better during the ‘Celtic Tiger’ era.”

&

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland, Mr O’Regan said: “We have 1,800 people at Bausch & Lomb in Waterford. 1,700 of these are involved in manufacturing with just 100 in research and development. There’s a need to redress this balance across industry and the research infrastructure in Ireland has been too scattered in the past.”

The Bausch & Lomb vice-president added: “In the South East, we are starting to see progress on our sea, rail and, particularly, road transport infrastructure while Waterford Airport also has ambitious plans. The time is right to make the next leap for the South East region and develop a university based on the existing Waterford Institute of Technology and with significant campuses at key locations elsewhere in the region.”