"All systems go" for AIT university designation, says Minister

Athlone IT and Limerick IT appear to be moving closer to jointly becoming a Technological University, with Minister Simon Harris saying he's keen to see the new designation completed "as quickly as possible."

Speaking in the Dáil on March 10, Minister Harris said the international panel which was assessing the Technological University bid concluded its work at the end of February.

The former Health Minister, who is now in charge of Further and Higher Education, said he was hopeful of a "positive recommendation" following the assessment by the international panel.

"(The panel) is now in the process of finalising its report which it will submit to the Higher Education Authority. It will then get input from Quality and Qualifications Ireland. Then the report is submitted to me with the recommendation to grant or not," said the Minister.

"I would be very hopeful of a positive recommendation. A significant amount of work has been done. I thank all the staff in Limerick Institute of Technology and Athlone Institute of Technology, particularly the two presidents for their leadership.

"I know that the hopefully soon-to-be new technological university is eager to be designated as quickly as possible. That is certainly my aim as well," he added.

"We will be in a position to put a specific date on that once I receive the report. It is all systems go."

Minister Harris was responding to a question from Tipperary TD Michael Lowry, who had asked about the Technological University bid and in particular the benefits it could bring to Limerick IT's Thurles and Clonmel campuses.

"It is a really exciting time, not just for the Midlands and Mid-West but also for County Tipperary," agreed Minister Harris.

The Athlone IT and Limerick IT consortium has previously outlined its aim for the new Technological University status to be in place ahead of the start of the next academic year in September.