Longford/ Westmeath Fine Gael Deputy James Bannon has welcomed the announcement that seven Border, Midlands and West (BMW ) region educational institutions are to combine their strengths under Líonra, the education network.
In an agreement signed yesterday (Thursday ) in Athlone, the Institutes of Technology in Athlone, Dundalk, Galway-Mayo, Letterkenny, and Sligo have signed an agreement to boost research and innovation with NUI Galway and St Angela’s College Sligo.
“I am delighted with this co-operation which will deliver essential research and development through a unified approach between education and industry.
“It is a particularly positive move for Longford/ Westmeath which has, despite continued lobbying, been let down by the Government in terms of a university for the Midlands.
“We continually hear talk of a knowledge-based economy as being the future for Ireland, but little has been done in practical terms by the Government to make this a reality,” said Deputy Bannon.
“It is exciting to see the BMW region leading the way in an innovative and job-centred approach to future development, both from a regional and national perspective.
“In meeting the needs of the higher education system by creating such a co-ordinated approach to the core areas of biomedical science and engineering, environment, software development and applications, health services research, social entrepreneurship, marine and energy, socio-economic sciences and humanities, agriculture and food, the initiative will put the BMW at the forefront of developmental progress.
“I would like to congratulate all concerned in this collaboration and to wish them well for the future.
“This is indeed a proactive move to put the dream of a knowledge-based economy into practical application. It will propel the BMW regions into a strong economic and job driven economy, while utilising the existing strengths of the area.”
