Waterford University discussion

They will sell the crystal site as government development.

You can already hear Cummins stating "as the government have delivered a University for Waterford, we have no unlocked the private development for the crystal site"

No doubt we'll see pictures of them standing outside the crystal site pre election. They might as well stand outside a Frisby housing development.

Not one of them have answered me when I have questioned the viability of the new innovation Centre and how that would effect arclabs/Carriganore.

The crystal site while very welcome, if we see non private development there (SETU development) it will most likely be rearranging the pieces (relocating arclabs, good Shephard's campus etc).

I 100% his attitude at 3rd level education in Waterford has been shocking, from dragging the former management through the mud (despite of being found of no wrong doing) and rolling in behind SETU, that said at present he is Waterford's only chance of a full minister.

I am no fan of FG either but Paudie Coffeey had the potential of a full minister and we shot ourselves in the foot there.

When it comes to elections the only vote worth having in Waterford is voting for the possibility of a full minister, it's clear to see the lack of development due to not having someone at the table.

https://www.clare.fm/news/higher-education-minister-opens-new-state-art-coonagh-campus-tus/

Jan O'Sullivan, Minister for Ed's gift to limerick, opened by the new limerick Minister for higher ed.

Im going with anybody but Fine Gael. The politics of SETU and third level investment in this region is awful.

I believe an application to extend could be appealed which at a minimum could delay the project a year. Simon Harris and Fine Gael at their best.

Yep he said he wasn't aware of the history and he would have to look into it and it will take him time to adjust to the role bla bla bla.

All that will be delivered is the new engineering building and possibly student accommodation.

All work that could have been done under the guise of WIT. I don't see how we are any better off.

Several times ministers have stated how students now have University on their parchment which proves it's all about the name and no more.

It shows the lack of understanding, even the former president of the WIT students union at time was saying how it will be great to have University on the parchment as it was (in her view) difficult for people to get jobs in the EU as they didn't know what an IoT was. Yet the number one University in the world is MIT!

You couldn't make it up.

Yes I would. And unfortunately that will be the legacy of SETU.

Failing to deliver the new Engineering is suicide and they know that. I'll be amazed if it doesn't break ground prior to the next general election.

If it doesn't then you really know the ambition or lack of from a FG perspective!

We all know the lack of ambition but not starting the new engineering building would be a new low even for FG.

I sadly believe that this is exacty what will happen.

Harris did nothing for Waterford as minister in either Health or Further Education. He will go for the triple as Taoiseach.

We had two FG TDs. They were elected in 2011 on the promise of a university. What happened? WIT was eviscerated. Harris continued that process in 2020 as Minister for Further Education. He has had five years to deliver a new building, any new buiding and what have we seen? The purchase of a site (3-4m Euro depending on who you believe) behind the old glass factory offices. Carlow IT has had five new buildings in the same period.

In all sincerity, someone tell me, why would it be different if we elect one FG TD? Surely it would be easier anyway to elect said person if the new engineering building was under way? There is more at play here than simply having an FG TD.

Fine Gael? Tumbleweed as Invara said above.

They will be banking on the West vote this time around. They seem very focused on Dungarvan and the West of the county.

By only running one candidate surely Cummins gets in. That said he will only be a junior minister and have no pull.

Look at our current junior minister Mary Butler, in government, she hasn't delivered a whole lot and appears to be party before people, and John would be much the same.

Yep I agree and that is their approach. Harris is down in Dungarvan today at the agricultural festival. He's probably been in Dungarvan more times than Waterford.

I hate to get into the metaphysics of this.... but to be clear an announcement is imminent.... Not actually a building, with diggers, mud and cement mixers.

Basically said at some point in the future, he will say something more on this matter.

Wake me up with a kango hammer when WITs progress is restarted.

Website last updated June 2021

https://www.ndfa.ie/projects/higher-education-ppp-bundle-2

I think the next announcement will be that it will be put out to tender, followed by contract awarded followed by construction starting.

How long does rendering normally take? They'll surely want ground broke pre election although they are so arrogant, they would be happy to say "vote us and we'll deliver the engineering building"

There is a clear distinction between public service process and what is being announced on WLR. PPP, airport and cardiac service have all had local political annoucements with zero actual movement in the public service that operate the mechanics of the state. The NDFA website clearly shows not change in the status of the project at this point in time. We are being played.

The Dome Bar was a major social outlet for students and gone since Covid. The campus on the Cork Road looking a bit gritty.

Time fast approaching when SETU leadership will have to speak out.

Two local papers in Waterford have decent coverage on the veterinary school debacle this week. KCLR had good coverage. Hopefully other media in the region will follow suit.

This always makes me laugh, all the elected south east members standing side by side outside kildalton pleading their support for the vet application.

Where are the outside the airport? I bet if we planned to build the runway in Wexford, apron in kilkenny and terminal in Carlow they would be all out in support!

Drove through Carlow for the first time in..... probably 25 years.....my word, the college up there is now streets ahead of WIT in terms of how it looks. They must have invested some money in the place because it was a right dump to look at back in the 90's. It's a much more attractive facility that WIT now. Dunno anything about the courses though but looks great.

In English football parlance, we was robbed. WIT was university ready in 2004 when Carow IT was a backwater. Now WIT has been reduced to penury. It has not had a new building, a new course or new student accommodation in 20 years.

Fine Gael has deliberately, systematically and intentionally undermined both city and college since 2011 all for their own political ends and now want us to elect those who helped ruin their own city. If, as a Waterford resident or native, you vote for that party, you are an idiot.

What has been done is unequalled in Irish third level history.

And is why I will never ever vote for any mainstream political party for as long as I live.. They are all liars

The assumption was promoted by UL and based on politics by the look of things.

Be nice to see the Vet School being established at SETU/Kildalton college it would really put the college in a more prestigious position. Obvious location in the heart of the country’s main agricultural area. But the sceptic in me doubts it and the usual cronyism will send it west or south

In 2023 the independent reporting that three new vet schools would be opened?

Is it all a circus for no reason?

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/three-new-vet-schools-in-package-to-deliver-1300-more-healthcare-and-veterinary-college-places/a250066263.html