Where does Mayo stand in the new university scheme of things?

Much is being made of the fact that Castlebar is to become a university town and Mayo a university county from April 1.

But what does it really mean for the status of the Mayo campus of GMIT?

Will it still have to fight battles with the powerbrokers in GMIT to ensure it gets its fair share of the cake?

The early indications, rightly or wrongly, is that it will.

This perception is based on the fact that the president of GMIT, Dr. Orla Flynn, and the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, announced on February 14 the institute's acquisition of Crowley Park from Galwegians Rugby Club for €8.95 million, €6.45 million of which has been funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

As the minister revealed, the site will now enable the new Atlantic Technological University to expand and develop facilities beside its existing Galway campus as demand for higher education continues to rise.

“Support for this acquisition demonstrates the commitment of the government to advancing the role and ambition of our new technological universities and to driving regional growth and opportunities,” he said.

Dr. Flynn further made the point that acquiring these lands will enable a safe expansion and development of Atlantic Technological University (ATU) in Galway City for the years ahead and facilitate projected growth in student numbers.

Fair enough.

Planning for the future is always a good thing and particularly so when capital funding is available to support it.

But surely a plan is now needed to ensure a similar development and expansion of facilities beside the Mayo campus for the years ahead.

After all, there is no shortage of lands within close proximity to the Castlebar college located on Westport Road and it would not cost anything like the €8.95 million spent on the Galway property.

But without Mayo-based representation on the new interim governing body of the Atlantic University, who is going to drive this agenda?

Political insiders have revealed to The Connaught Telegraph that Minister Harris and his department would be prepared to support an expansion of the Castlebar centre - but he would need a concrete plan on the table.

During a recent Dáil debate with Mayo TD Alan Dillon, the minister came across as very enthusiastic about Mayo's new university status.

He stated: “I want 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.”

He also revealed he was looking forward to visiting Mayo with Deputy Dillon shortly to examine the position.

That will present a golden opportunity for stakeholders in the Castlebar campus to make their pitch.

Deputy Dillon has called for the headquarters of the new university to be located in Mayo's county town.

That would be a coup.

But it's hard to see how Galway would allow such prestige to be taken away from them.