A milestone day as Castlebar is officially confirmed as university town

Designation of technological university to commence from late Q1 or early Q2 of 2022 making Castlebar a university town and Mayo a university county.

Mayo elected representatives have welcomed the good news in respect of the designation of a technological university for the west and north west region.

The establishment of the new TU was formally announced today by the Minister for Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris and encompasses eight locations in Castlebar, Galway, Killybegs, Letterfrack, Letterkenny, Mountbellow and Sligo.

The three presidents of Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Sligo IT and Letterkenny IT, were advised of the approval of the application by Connacht-Ulster Alliance.

It is expected that the designation of Technological University will commence from late Q1 or early Q2 of 2022 making Castlebar a university town and Mayo a university county.

Deputy Alan Dillon said: “This is amazing news for Castlebar which is set to become a university town, making Mayo a university county.

"The Connacht-Ulster Alliance have done excellent work to ensure the three Institutes in the west and north-west put their best foot forward in progressing the application for a technological university.

"Their hard work has paid off with the confirmation that the designation of a technological university confirmed.

"This will have significant positive impact on the west and north-west region of Ireland as the counties of Mayo, Sligo and Donegal don’t have an existing university.

“From next year, the north west of our island will have its own multi-campus university and this is a massive step forward in promoting balanced regional development.

"These technological universities have the potential to serve as a powerhouse for regional development and improving access to higher education.

"It is a big win for rural Ireland and there are countless opportunities once the technological university commences operations.

"Having raised this matter with Further and Higher Education Minister, Simon Harris, on countless occasions, it was great to receive news that Mayo will soon become a university county and Castlebar a university town.

"The next steps will be the advertisement for a governing authority and I expect this process to commence in the near future.”

Mayo Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary has hailed the establishment of a technological university for the North West as a ‘milestone day’ for the region.

“This is a great day for the region and for the colleges coming together to form this technological university, namely GMIT, IT Sligo and Letterkenny IT.

"The announcement will provide for the establishment of a multi-campus university in the region in early 2022.

"It will increase higher education access, drive enhanced regional development and increase opportunities for students, staff, business and enterprise, and local communities in the north west,” said Deputy Calleary.

“The development of technological universities is a core objective of the Government as is regional development – the establishment of this university presence in the north west will greatly assist efforts to further develop our region and has potential to be a transformational event for people across Mayo, Galway, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Donegal.

“I want to congratulate everybody connected with the new university and wish it and them well for the future and assure all involved of my commitment to ensuring that each campus is adequately funded with capital investment in the years ahead," he added.

Deputy Michael Ring said the plan will deliver unique higher education and opportunities to students, staff and wider business and community stakeholders in the north west region.

“This new technological university will increase higher education access, drive enhanced regional development and increase opportunities for students, staff, business and enterprise, and local communities.”

"The next steps in the legislative process require the minister to bring forward a draft order establishing the appointed day on which the new technological university will be legally established and the three existing institutes consequentially dissolved for approval by the Houses of the Oireachtas.

"Students graduating in the 2021-2022 academic year will do so with university qualifications."

Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh, the Sinn Féin spokesperson in higher education, said: "This has the potential to be a transformative development for Mayo that I wholeheartedly welcome.

“Castlebar will become a university town by the end of the academic year and will be a game changer for the county town.

"Not only will it increase the educational opportunities for everyone in Mayo it will bring a new vibrancy to Castlebar and the surrounding area.

“We need to unlock the potential of Mayo, the West, and North West. A technological university is a vitally important to that objective.

“Universities must also be seen as an economic driver. A well-educated workforce and high-quality research eco-system is key to continuing to develop regional industries and retain and attract inward investment.

““Increased capital investment and greater course options in regional colleges and campuses must be forthcoming.

“Higher Education has been underfunded for the past 10 years, with the sector remaining in austerity mode. We need a better vision for higher education that recognises the potential benefits higher education can have on our society and economy.

“The experience of GMIT and other institutes of technology clearly demonstrates the benefits and costs associated with geographically spread-out, multi campus institutes.

“While this diversity and reach is what makes this TU so important and unique, we need to ensure that we provide the resources to deliver on this potential.

“The funding has to go along with this announcement. We need a step change in the core and capital funding we provide to higher education – particularly institutes of technology and technological universities.

“We need to invest in research and development to ensure this new technological university reaches it potential and acts as a catalyst for wider regional development."

Senator Paddy Burke congratulated Minister Harris for getting the proposal over the line.

"It's a momentous day for Castlebar, Mayo and the region in general.

"This has been a long road from start to university. Great credit is due to everybody involved, not least Paddy McGuinness and the members of the Mayo RTC Action Group."

Mayo Fianna Fáil Senator Lisa Chambers said this is the fourth TU to be created since 2019 and represents a milestone in higher education provision for the West and North West.

He elaborated: “This is a huge day for higher education in the region.

“This new technological university will increase higher education access and enhance regional development. It will also increase opportunities for students, staff, business and enterprise, and local communities.

“This is something I have long advocated for and I am delighted to see today that it will finally be delivered.

“I commend everyone involved for their work in getting this over the line and I want to wish everyone at the new Technological University the very best for the future.”

Councillor Ger Deere, as former secretary of the Mayo RTC Action Group which fought for years to have a third level college in the county, welcomed what he described as 'fantastic news for the future of education in our county'.

"Great credit is due to Paddy McGuinness and all the members of the action group and today we remember especially those members who are no longer with us," he added.