Mayo must have voice on new university board

THE need for Mayo to have a voice on the board of the recently established Atlantic Technological University (ATU) has again been reiterated at council level.

Councillor Martin McLoughlin has tabled a motion asking Mayo County Council to communicate to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris, and the chair of the governing body of ATU, Maura McNally, SC, 'our firm desire to see fair representation from Mayo and for the Mayo campus on the board of the governing body of the ATU, including academic and external members'.

The council has also invited Ms. McNally to attend one of its meetings to brief councillors on her role as chair and plans for her term in office.

Councillor Blackie Gavin suggested the council meeting should be held at the ATU's Castlebar campus.

Councillor McLoughlin said his motion had two objectives - that Mayo would have fair representation on the governing board and that the range of courses at the campus would be retained and expanded. There is an opportunity, he said, to deliver third-level education to meet the demands of students from Mayo, who may not be able to afford to move away, and to also attract students to the county.

He also wanted to see the campus developed as a centre of excellence for apprenticeships, in particular. There is a huge shortage of tradespeople at a time when the state talks about providing thousands of homes, he noted.

In the past the campus had lost out, with courses withdrawn or transferred to Galway, when they had no one on the board.

They needed to have someone on the board.