28 Oct Castlebar confirmed to become a University Town and Mayo a University County in 2022 – Dillon
– Designation of Technological University for West and North-West to be confirmed today (Thur, 28th Oct);
– Three Presidents of GMIT, IT Sligo and Letterkenny IT will be advised of the approval of the application from the Connacht-Ulster Alliance;
– Designation of Technological University to commence from late Q1 or early Q2 of 2022 making Castlebar a university town and Mayo a university county.
Fine Gael TD for Mayo, Alan Dillon, has strongly welcomed the good news on the designation of a Technological University for the West and North West. The three Presidents of Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Sligo IT and Letterkenny IT, will be 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 Dillon said: “This is amazing news for Castlebar which is set to become a university town and 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.”
Deputy Dillon continued: “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 TD, 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.”