It is a matter for the relevant Institutes of Technology in a consortium to lead on the progression of their plans to seek designation as a technological university under the Technological Universities Act 2018.
In relation to the Technological University of South East Ireland (TUSEI) consortium comprising Waterford Institute of Technology and the Institute of Technology Carlow, the Minister of State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D., has met with the Presidents and Chairs of both IoTs on a number of occasions this year with a view to encouraging the progression of the TUSEI development project. It is understood that, as has been stated publicly, the consortium through its joint steering group is continuing to progress its work with a view to submitting an application for TU designation by the end of 2018.
The TUSEI consortium has received some €1.72 million in Exchequer funding to date to advance their project, of which the most recent tranche of €1m in higher education landscape restructuring funding was announced by the Minister of State for Higher Education on 21 September 2018.