Minister of State Mary Mitchell O'Connor says she is waiting for the application from WIT and IT Carlow, for a technological university in the South East.
The application for Munster Technological University, was submitted yesterday.
It looks likely to become the country's second technological university after TU Dublin, which was established in January.
"I was hoping that the application from the Technological University for the South East Ireland, TUSEI, would come in before the one from Munster Technological University but that has not happened.
"We have received the second application. I would ask TUSEI to work on its application. I understand it is ready and I am awaiting it."
The Minister was responding to Waterford Sinn Fein TD David Cullinane who said having a region without a university is not an ideal situation.
He said higher levels of unemployment and lower levels of education attainment in the South East are in part down to not having a university.
"In the south east we have an airport with no commercial flights. We have two institutes of technology but no university.
"We are always demanding of the Government that it give us the resources we need as of right.
"A university is a perfect example of that. What we need for the south east is not just the pegging together of Carlow and Waterford institutes of technology. We have to look at this as the opportunity to build a new world class university of international standing."
