- Taoiseach to launch Project Ireland 2040 at IT Sligo
- Government presence a vote of confidence in North West
Dr. Brendan McCormack, President, Institute of Technology, Sligo, has said that the Institute is honoured to be the venue on Friday for a historic meeting of the Cabinet.
The Cabinet meeting, the first ever to be held at an IT campus, will begin at 11am and be followed by the launch, by An Taoiseach Mr. Leo Varadkar T.D, of Project Ireland 2040, the National Planning Framework and National Development Plan.
The launch will take place in the Knocknarea Arena, IT Sligo, before an audience of staff and students of IT Sligo, government ministers and guests.
Commenting, Dr McCormack said the Cabinet meeting and launch of both the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan was a vote of confidence in Sligo, the North West Region, its young people and its future.
He added: “We believe that the plans to be announced here will make a transformative impact on the economic wellbeing of the north-west region, provide a timely and much needed boost for the entire region, and assist greatly in its development. A strong commitment by government in this plan will strengthen the confidence of the business community that the region has the capability to support business start-ups and business expansion of SMEs and multi-national companies.
“A collective effort by all stakeholders in the region led by the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA), included the business community led by IBEC North-West, the chambers of commerce in Sligo and neighbouring counties, Sligo Economic Forum, the Western Development Commission (WDC) and other stakeholders including Local Authorities and public representatives. The region has made its voice heard.
“It is essential that we all work to provide a bright future for the region’s young people. That future includes being able to offer a quality education, as well as the resources and infrastructure that can ensure our young people can build sustainable futures in the North West, and prosper here.”
IT Sligo currently has circa 6,000 students from over 20 different countries undertaking programmes across a range of STEM areas in science, engineering and design and in business and the social sciences. The Institute has also won national recognition as Ireland’s leading innovator in the use of technology and flexible online learning, delivering programmes to over 2,500 off-campus and part-time students.
MEDIA CONTACT: Ciaran Byrne 086 173 9523