Madam, - Danny O'Hare (Education Today, December 6th) has had a distinguished career in the university sector but his views on the aspiration of any institute of technology to achieve university status are obviously influenced by past involvements.
He may be correct about the need to maintain diversity in third-level education but he is completely wrong to suggest that university status does not confer particular advantages to areas where universities are located.
In making the case for foreign direct investment, an area without a university is at a distinct disadvantage, as IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland will verify. This is why the South-East region continues to lag behind and why we have 25 per cent fewer graduates than the West.
Waterford is the only gateway city, as defined in the National Spatial Strategy, without a university. If it is to have any chance of competing for enterprise in the future, Danny O'Hare's vision must not prevail for the South-East. - Yours, etc,
DECLAN MacPARTLIN, Camolin, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.