Kirk pleads for action on North East University
Published on: 23 January 2012
Louth Fianna Fáil TD Seámus Kirk has called on both Dublin City University (DCU) and Dundalk IT to explore the possibility of establishing a second campus for the university in County Louth.
During a Dáil debate on Education on Thursday (19 January 2012) Deputy Kirk highlighted the fact that a proposed technological university for the South East was in progress and asked Education Minister Ruairí Quinn if a similar university for the North East would be supported.
Deputy Kirk commented, “The Minister is familiar with Dundalk and the North East. Dundalk IT is bound by the sea on one side and the border on the other. Its future is important and its management are more than anxious to see a pathway set out for a university. Dundalk IT caters for over 5,000 students and has been a key component of the educational and technological advancement of Dundalk over the last 30 years.
“In order to sustain this, efforts must be made to explore the possibility of upgrading its status to that of a technological university. The benefits for Dundalk and the wider Louth area will be enormous, the already excellent research facilities will be greatly enhanced and the attractiveness for investment will also increase.”
Under questioning from Deputy Kirk, Minister Quinn said the various institutions must endeavour to meet the criteria set down without government interference.
“The Minister has said it is not in the remit of his department to facilitate institutions trying to upgrade their status. I am anxious to see both DCU and DKIT pursue the possibility of opening a second campus in Louth and I exhort the boards of both institutions to enter into dialogue about a university for the North East as soon as possible.”