PLANS FOR a South Eastern University branch in Wexford, a matter which was a serious campaigning issue during the last General Election, could be in doubt, according to a Co. Councillor who raised the matter at yesterday’s (Monday) meeting of the Wexford Borough District Council.

Cllr. George Lawlor brought the matter up during a discussion on the Local Economic and Community Plan, which itself makes reference to the importance of creating a strong educational structure in the town and county.

Cllr. Lawlor said: “It is my information that the plan for a South Eastern university has been halted by the ‘Dolly Mixture’ government we currently have in place. I understand that an Independent Minister of State from Waterford is to be appointed next week and it was their concern that Waterford not be affected by the merging of it and Wexford.”

He said it was his understanding that that TD’s supporting of government was driven by a promise not to amalgamate the two areas, and he said that if this was true, it was indicative of a government that did not want to support Co. Wexford.

Cllr. Ger Carthy remarked that if this was true it was very disappointing.

Cllr. Lawlor continued, saying that five years of work had gone into this plan and if it was put on the backburner now it was a disgrace and should be highly condemned by all in the chamber.

However, Cllr. Jim Moore rounded on his council colleague saying that Cllr. Lawlor couldn’t wait to sit on the opposition bench and that it was wrong of him to “come in and throw around a rumour” which he believed undermined the work being done on the project.

Cllr. Lawlor reminded Cllr. Moore that he had been part of Brendan Howlin’s team when the plan was being developed, and said he would not stand for being attacked on the matter but insisted it needed sorting out.

Speaking to this newspaper, Minister of State Paul Kehoe denied any suggestion that the University for the South East was being shelved, saying that the government had outlined its commitment to the development of technological universities.

Any suggestion of a shelving of the plan was, he said, “absolutely not the case.”