A university for the southeast?

Both the Department of Education and the Higher Education Authority were anxious to play down those reports of a new Technological University (TU) for the southeast, bringing together Waterford and Carlow ITs.

The message (for public consumption) was that strict criteria must be met before the ITs in Waterford and Carlow can crack open the Champagne. But everyone – the department, the HEA and even the university heads – accept the southeast will get a TU; the only question is when.

As if to confirm this, the Kilkenny Advertiserhas some interesting comments from the Minister for the Environment, and local TD, Phil Hogan.

Hogan says the new rules governing the establishment of a TU “will open the way for institutes of technology such as those in Carlow and Waterford to apply for technological status”.

The Minister is reported to “have met both Carlow and Waterford IT bosses” last week. He also confirmed he is working with the Wexford-based Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin, to push the case for a southeast university.

“It is critical for commercial progress that we have educational opportunity in the southeast,” he said. Hogan is a real political heavyweight, earning his spurs by backing Edna Kenny in last year’s leadership challenge. If he really wants a TU for the southeast, it will happen.

Our prediction? Plans to establish a TU for the southeast will be announced well before the next election.

Quinn’s quandaries

After an impressive start, the Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, is suddenly feeling the heat on education.

In December, Quinn emerged from the Budget discussions feeling rather pleased with himself; the 3 per cent cut in his department’s €9 billion budget looked like a reasonable outcome when other departments were taking more pain.

Quinn’s original plan was to save €70 million by imposing a general increase on class size at primary and secondary level. But when this was vetoed by Cabinet colleagues he had to cast around for cuts in frontline services such as disadvantaged (DEIS) schools, small rural schools and guidance counsellors.

Quinn has already been forced into one U-turn on DEIS schools, while the campaigns by rural schools and guidance counsellors are gathering momentum. So, don’t rule out another U-turn.

Given the current mess, Quinn might have been better to have pushed ahead with the increase in class size – the kind of general cut the education sector might stomach.

Instead, he has backed himself into a corner; a Labour minister forced to defend the targeting of disadvantaged and small rural schools – and the proposed abolition of a professional guidance service in schools. Things can only get better . . .

A degree of drink

What's the biggest issue for students on campus – the high cost of fees or the low cost of alcohol? Some interesting musings from Simon Murphy in the Guardian's student blog. He writes: "You might wonder how I came to find myself slumped against a wall, dressed in a frock with lipstick smeared across my face, slowly regaining consciousness at God knows what hour one Wednesday night. "It could only happen at university, and it could only happen after consuming copious amounts of alcohol. "My Lily Savage moment is not one I am proud of, but I share it because it highlights the extreme lows of student nightlife. Never mind . . . fees, alcohol abuse is the overwhelming problem at universities.''

Got any education gossip? Email sflynn@irishtimes.com or teacherspet@irishtimes.com