Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Mar 2000

Vol. 516 No. 2

Written Answers. - Third Level Colleges.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

148 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has to redress the situation where up to 4,000 third level students are being lost to the south east region annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7345/00]

Brian O'Shea

Question:

149 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has to redress the situation whereby £30 million is being lost by the south east region from the State's annual third level spend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7346/00]

Brian O'Shea

Question:

150 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has to bring equity to the situation whereby Waterford Institute of Technology is operating on the lowest per capita cost base of any publicly funded higher education college; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7347/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 to 150, inclusive, together.

My Department has been in contact with Waterford Institute of Technology to secure more detailed information in relation to the data and issues raised by the Deputy. I will have the matter fully examined when this information becomes available.

Current policy in relation to third level educational provision is based on the recommendations of the steering committee on the future development of higher education. This committee was asked to advise on the future development of the higher education sector and to examine, within the overall national context, the needs for higher education on a regional basis and the appropriateness of the current institutional provision by region to meet these needs.

As a response to the higher education needs of the south east region, the report recommended an increase in student places in what was then the Regional Technical College, Waterford, an increase in degree level awards and a change of title. The report also recommended that the major focus of expansion be at degree level. It stated that such provision would place the college at the top end of the spectrum by comparison with other regional technical colleges in terms of provision of degree places and would enable the region to reach the national average participation in degree programmes.

The Government accepted these recommendations with the result that provision in both the total number of places and in degree level courses in WIT is being expanded annually and incrementally in line with available resources. These measures, combined with the change of title of the college to institute of technology, provide the necessary status and capacity for the institute to meet the identified higher education needs of the region over the coming years. This commitment to the development of the institute is being supported by a very significant increase in its budget allocation, which in the last four years was increased by 64% and amounted to almost £15 million in 1999.

A unit cost system of allocating funds to the institutes of technology has not yet been developed. However, my Department has initiated a review with a view to preparing proposals for the allocation of current funding to the institutes based on the concept of unit costs or an alternative suitable formula based concept.

The annual budget for each institute is at present allocated on the basis of its total pay and non-pay requirements following consideration of its annual programmes and budget submission which is required under section 13 of the Regional Technical Colleges Act, 1992. The allocation takes into account the complexity of each institute, the range of courses and facilities offered to students, the total number of students (both full-time and part-time) and the nature of the infrastructure. Decisions on the allocations also have regard to government policy and the Department's priorities.