A joint application has been put forward to establish a new Technological University in the South East.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, confirmed he has received an application from Waterford Institute of Technology and IT Carlow.

Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People and Fianna Fáil TD for Waterford, Mary Butler, welcomed the announcement.

She said: "I am very pleased to welcome news that Technological University status for the South East is finally within sight. This is vital to our region and an issue I have fought for, over many years. It will benefit future generations of students and the region's long-term development.

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"Unfortunately, we are all too familiar with the reality of thousands of students leaving the South East each year to attend university elsewhere, we must do everything in our power to prevent the continued acceleration of this brain drain.

"Significant capital investment from Government will be required to drive this process and ensure the success of the Technological University in the South East. It’s something I have raised with Minister Harris and I understand that he is strongly committed to getting this project across the line.

"Officials from the Department and the Higher Education Authority are in ongoing engagement in relation to campus development plans across multiple proposed TU locations – Waterford, Carlow and Wexford. It is planned that over the lifetime of the National Development Plan substantial investment will be required across various locations to address under investment in facilities and this investment includes the vision of a larger TU campus footprint in the South East."