- Expansion of nursing places also in the mix
- First Application to new Technological Sector Strategic Project Funding (TSSPF) scheme
In July 2023, then Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris announced that the Higher Education Authority had assessed proposals by SETU to establish new courses in the areas of Pharmacy and veterinary medicine, as well as an expansion of nursing as viable options for consideration as part of the ‘Building Capacity’ process.
Senator Cummins said “Over the past twelve months full business cases have been finalised and there has been extensive engagement between the Department of Further and Higher Education, Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Higher Education Authority to identify the exact number of places that are needed in the short, medium and long term with budgets being worked on for same”.
He added “In terms of Pharmacy, viable options were assessed at University of Galway, South East Technological University and Atlantic Technological University; while University of Limerick, South East Technological University and Atlantic Technological University were assessed as viable options for Veterinary Medicine. Eight existing universities were assessed to have viable options for expansion of nursing places, while four locations had viable options for new courses”.
Speaking in the Seanad earlier this year, Senator Cummins said “In terms of course development, SETU have submitted very strong bids for new pharmacy and veterinary medicine disciplines, as well as an expansion of their nursing school. These are obviously competitive calls which are currently being assessed by the HEA, however It would be my hope that we can get approval for at least two out of three of these requests”.
Addressing recent comments relating to the PPP Engineering and General Teaching building Senator Cummins said “I look forward to an announcement being made on this shortly. Contrary to what some may say, final tender prices were submitted in April of this year for the five building PPP bundle and significant due diligence has been conducted since due to only one remaining consortia remaining in the process. I have been working very hard with my Fine Gael government colleagues to bring this matter to conclusion and the Taoiseach has been very clear that a decision will be made shortly”.
“SETU has also submitted its first application to the new Technological Sector Strategic Project Funding (TSSPF) scheme which is a specific capital scheme for the Technological Universities. I understand the first building of circa 10,000 sq/m is earmarked for the former Waterford Crystal site and will provide a compelling start to the University-Enterprise Quarter, housing teaching, research and innovation/enterprise engagement activities. It will compliment the work which is ongoing at a pace on the former offices and showrooms by Frisby’s which was made possible due to the acquisition of over half the site for SETU earlier this year”.
He concluded by saying “I was delighted to organise two letters of support, signed by all Oireachtas members in the Southeast in support of SETU’s bids for course development. Our new University led by Professor Veronica Campbell is working hard to develop new and existing courses and it is vital that all Oireachtas members continue to advocate and talk up the excellent work being done by staff and management at the university”.
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