Sinn Féin TD Conor D. McGuinness has hit out at continued Government neglect of Waterford and the South East and ongoing inequality for the region when it comes to funding for Technical Universities.
The Waterford TD received information that shows SETU is firmly at the bottom of the list in terms of capital funding for technological universities, and a full third below the next lowest university. He sharply criticised Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael for ‘yet again turning their backs’ on Waterford and the region.
McGuinness said:
“Government has conceded that SETU is bottom of the pile when it comes to capital funding and by a considerable distance. The admission came in the way of a parliamentary question response from the Minister for Further and Higher Education. In the years since technological universities were established the Technological University of Dublin has been allocated almost €56 million, the Atlantic Technological University of the over €52 million, Munster Technological University almost €47 million, and the Technological Univerity of the Shannon €41 million. In the same timeframe SETU has been allocated just €27 million.
“Its interesting to note that Atlantic Technological University was established just 30 days before SETU and has received almost double the capital funding.
“To add insult to injury, SETU is one of only two technological universities not to have received any capital funding so far in 2025. Not a single cent, while MTU in Cork has already been allocated some €6 million in 2025.
“This is yet another example of the Government treating the South-East as an afterthought. SETU is being starved of resources while other TUs receive millions more for research, infrastructure, and innovation. Waterford and the wider region deserve parity of esteem, but Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil’s neglect is holding back our students, researchers, and local economy.”
McGuinness urged the Minister for Further and Higher Education to immediately review SETU’s funding allocation and propose a fairer funding model and it now fast-track capital projects for SETU’s campuses in Waterford. The Government should also publish a roadmap to address systemic underinvestment in the South East’s higher education sector.
Speaking on the figures he received from the Department he said:
“The figures speak for themselves, SETU is placed in the middle of the list of the five TUs when it comes to the number of students, but bottom of the list by a mile when it comes to funding. The second lowest funded TU, ATU, has received over a third more funding than SETU since its formation.
“The Government must explain why SETU is at the bottom of the pile. If they’re serious about regional development, they need to put their money where their mouth is”
ENDS
Conor D. McGuinness TD 