Carlow College merger with SETU a priority
Minister for higher education James Lawless with minister of state Jennifer Murnane O'Connor and President of Carlow College, Fr Conn Ó Maoldhomhnaigh in the college's library last week
CARLOW College’s merger with the South East Technological University (SETU) is to be prioritised this year after the minister for higher education had a meeting in Carlow on Friday about the matter.
Minister for further and higher education James Lawless said that Carlow College’s position on a possible merger with SETU is “in limbo” and that he’ll prioritise it as one of the top items on his ministerial agenda. Minister Lawless met Carlow College president Fr Conn Ó Maoldhomhnaigh, Peter Carey who is a member of the governing body of Carlow College, and minister of state Jennifer Murnane O’Connor on Friday morning.
“I’m very conscious that Carlow College’s position is in limbo. I fully support the plan to absorb the college into SETU and will accelerate and expedite the process. In my mind, I’d like it to move faster than it is and I’m also meeting the president of SETU (Professor Veronica Campbell) this morning,” minister Lawless told on Friday.
New legislation has been introduced that will allow smaller colleges to be merged with larger colleges, such as Carlow College into SETU.
The minister said that there was “due diligence” surrounding such a move, including the proposal that Carlow College will give its 17-acre campus in the heart of the town to SETU for redevelopment.
Minister Lawless said that he would prioritise the merger over the coming months, with the hope that it will be completed by the end of the year.
“This will be my priority and I have asked for facts and figures, while I’ll also ask my department to engage with both colleges. It will not go beyond this year,” said minister Lawless.
Fr Ó Maoldhomhnaigh said he was deeply appreciative of the minister taking the time to visit the college.
“We had an excellent meeting and discussed the many developments happening at Carlow College, St Patrick’s and our strategic priorities. The minister stated his support for the college’s strategic objective of becoming fully integrated into SETU,” said Fr Ó Maoldhomhnaigh. “We greatly appreciate his support and that of minister Jennifer Murnane O’Connor for Carlow College and its integration into the higher education sector in the southeast region.”
