University Upgrade Key to Regional Development – South East Chambers
A meeting of the Chambers of the South East Region took place last evening (Wednesday, October 5) in Waterford to discuss the issue of a University for the South East region.
Announcing that universal agreement had been reached amongst the Chambers to collaborate on seeking a University for the South East the group of Chambers will be seeking to meet as a group with political representatives in Dail Eireann to press the case for a university of the South East.
The nine South East Chambers which represent a region with almost half a million people have identified that a key priority for economic recovery of the region is the designation of a Technological University of the South East. Many of the population in the region are disadvantaged by not having the same access as other regions to a University. University designation will lead to improved links between industry and education and strengthen the indigenous industrial sector by promoting opportunities for increased levels of Research and Development.
The ESRI estimated that higher levels of education added at least one per cent to economic growth each year in the 1990s. The South East has traditionally had lower levels of educational attainment at third level that the rest of the country and there is no doubt that this has contributed to the fact that the economic performance of the South East has lagged behind the rest of the country.
Commenting at the event Anne Marie Caulfield, President of the Waterford Chamber, said “The lack of University Status is a roadblock to our economic development in the Southeast; as third level education has been, and will continue to be, a key driving force in generating economic activity. As far back as 2005 Goodbody Economic Consultants identified that a University would bring in excess of €96m annually into the economy of the South East which is surely one of the strongest arguments for University designation for the region.
In the Southeast, there has also been an absence of a strategic economic development plan and the uneven spread of access to Universities is unacceptable. Ireland is a small economy, and of course, we have to think in terms of the national economy but it is also true that it regional economies working well together have much to contribute to national economic development.
Key to the development of the South East will be University designation which will attract and retain people in the region, who in turn create employment spin off, and are also innovators and entrepreneurs themselves. It is that self-reinforcing process, the opposite of people leaving to find opportunity elsewhere, which will form the base for southeast regional development.”
South East Chambers Welcome Ministers Announcement
South East Chambers, the regional body representing the nine largest Chambers of Commerce in the region, has welcomed the announcement of a €200,000 job creation fund by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Richard Bruton. The fund, specifically for the South East, will be used to create jobs in the region.
Welcoming the announcement, Brian Cleary, Chairman of South East Chambers said that he hoped this would be accessed by companies in the region. “Unemployment in the south east is the highest of any region in Ireland and schemes like this are essential to create new opportunities for indigenous companies. I, along with my colleagues welcome the creation of the fund and we, as an organisation, will be promoting this to businesses in all of our areas” said Cleary.
The purpose of the Pilot Competitive Feasibility Fund for the South East Region is
to accelerate the growth of start-up companies that have the capability to succeed
in global markets. The fund is designed to assist a new start-up company or individual
entrepreneur to investigate the viability of a new export orientated business or
proposition.
The closing date for applications is 30th January 2012, and it is expected
that the first awards will be made shortly after that.
Companies or individuals will be able to access grants of up to €25,000 each to assess the viability of establishing an export led business.
South East Chambers is the representative body of the nine largest Chambers of Commerce in the region. Member Chambers are: Carlow, Clonmel, Dungarvan, Kilkenny, Enniscorthy, New Ross, Gorey, Waterford and Wexford
| Carlow |
| Clonmel |
| Dungarvan |
| Enniscorthy |
| Gorey |
| Kilkenny |
| New Ross |
| Waterford |
| Wexford |
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| Chambers Ireland |
| Access Data |