Call for HQ of new university to be located in Mayo

The Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris has confirmed that the ministerial order drafted to appoint both the official name and date of establishment of the Atlantic Technological University has been approved by the Oireachtas in accordance with section 3 of the Technological Universities Act 2018.

He elaborated: "I have signed the order appointing April 1, 2022, as the date of establishment.

"An open public process seeking nominations for the positions of chairperson and two ordinary members of the first governing body of the new TU has been run by my department and I am currently considering a number of shortlisted candidates presented to me under this process.

"The relevant applicant institutes are currently progressing an open competition to identify and put forward a suitably qualified candidate to myself as minister for designation as the first president of the TU in accordance with section 56 of the 2018 Act.

"Post-establishment, the specific roles, plans for and operation of the TU’s eight campuses across the west and north west, will be a matter for the governing body of the autonomous higher education institution."

The minister was responding to a parliamentary question by Mayo TD Alan Dillon.

He asked if the Atlantic Technological University is on track to commence operations in 2022 and if consideration has been given to locating the headquarters of the new technological university in County Mayo.

Deputy Dillon stated the establishment of the Atlantic Technological University in the western region will certainly strengthen further investment in job creation.

"We can build better capacity within our life science sector, look to be more innovative with regard to green technology and expand growth within our tourism and business sectors.

"We need a cohesive approach across department to ensure we address deficits with regard to future skills needs and that we have a long-term strategy and approach," he said.

Minister Harris added he wanted to send a clear message in respect of the Atlantic Technological University.

"Its role will be to work in the context of the regional jobs plans and enterprise strategies and with the regional skills fora to identify where the jobs for the future and for now are in Mayo and the north-west region and to provide the courses and pathways necessary to develop a pipeline of talent. I look forward to visiting Mayo shortly to look at that."

Senator Paddy Burke has welcomed the signing the order for the new Atlantic Technological University.

"Castlebar is now officially a university town and Mayo a university county," he added.