Staff at South East Technological University’s Waterford campuses will be staging a protest on Thursday, 26th February, citing what they describe as unsafe, deteriorating and “no longer acceptable” working and learning conditions across multiple buildings. The action, organised by the SETU Waterford Branch of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI), took place at entrances to the Cork Road and College Street campuses. The union emphasised that student services were not disrupted.

Staff highlight years of neglect and worsening conditions

The TUI says the protest stems from the University’s failure to implement an agreed staff accommodation plan and to deliver essential maintenance across older buildings, despite what the union describes as “constructive engagement” over a prolonged period.

Members report years of underfunding and delayed repairs, resulting in widespread issues such as leaks, mould, poor ventilation, and deteriorating infrastructure. They argue that staff and students are being asked to work in conditions that fall below basic health and safety standards.

The union has published a non‑exhaustive list of ongoing problems affecting teaching spaces, offices, laboratories and common areas across the Waterford campuses, including:

Uncleared gutters causing water ingress into teaching spaces, including art studios.
Persistent damp and visible mould growth in several areas.
Severe black mould in small photography darkrooms with inadequate or absent ventilation.
Mould spreading around door frames and up internal walls.
Bracket fungus emerging from behind an internal door frame.
Cracked windows and rotted window frames exposing glass at the base.
Active leaks in classrooms and corridors, with water collected in buckets.
Water‑damaged ceiling tiles falling from ceilings.
Broken, rotting benches, a piano, and discarded building materials left in courtyards and car parks.
Restrictive, slow and outdated IT infrastructure in classrooms and labs.
Ongoing unreliable WiFi in parts of campus since the cyber incident, limiting teaching and research.
Difficulty regulating temperature in buildings, with some spaces excessively cold or overheated.
One office recorded at 5°C during working hours.
Outdated, uncomfortable furniture in offices and classrooms.
Fixed seating layouts that do not support modern, interactive teaching.
Limited informal space for students between classes.
No catering service available after 4pm.
Dirty, ripped and worn carpets in staff offices.
Excessive sun glare in offices due to absent or broken blinds.

Union officers warn that such conditions pose risks including mould‑related illness, respiratory issues, poor air quality, structural damage, and increased workplace stress. They say concerns have been raised repeatedly but meaningful progress has not followed.

University cites major capital programme and long‑term redevelopment

In a statement issued to Déise Today on WLR FM on Wednesday, 25 February, SETU acknowledged the challenges posed by ageing infrastructure and said it is advancing an “ambitious and strategically aligned” capital development programme.

Projects highlighted include:

A 13,000 m² Engineering, Computing and General Teaching Building on the Cork Road campus, due for completion in 2028.
Approval and design work for the retrofit of the second floor of the Engineering and Science Building.
A Government‑funded 2,000 m² Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine facility at the Glassworks site.
A 1,000 m² Veterinary Medicine education facility at Kildalton.
Approval for the 10,000 m² One Health Building at the Glassworks site to progress to the next development stage.

The University said it remains committed to active engagement with staff and unions and to ongoing maintenance and improvement of existing facilities.

TUI welcomes investment but says immediate problems remain unaddressed

In a follow‑up statement, the SETU Waterford TUI Branch said it welcomes the capital commitments and recognises that major construction projects operate on long timelines. However, it stressed that these developments do not address the current condition of older buildings or the outdated IT infrastructure in classrooms and laboratories that will remain in use well beyond 2028.

The union says staff and students will continue to work in these spaces for years to come and is calling for a clear maintenance plan, defined timelines, and visible progress on repairs to ensure safe, healthy and functional working conditions in the interim.

For the latest Waterford News and Sport, tune into WLR News on the hour and download the WLR App for news on demand.