Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Jul 1968

Vol. 65 No. 10

Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Bill, 1968: Report Stage.

Mr. O'Quigley

I move amendment No. 1, in the name of Senators Garret FitzGerald and Dooge:

In page 2, lines 16 to 23, to delete all words from and including " any" in line 16 to the end of the section and substitute:

"(a) a university or university college in respect of its courses which are of degree standard, or

(b) any other institution of higher education for the time being approved by the Minister for the purposes of this Act, either generally or in relation to any particular grant or class of grants under section 2 of this Act, in so far as that institution provides courses which in the opinion of the Minister are equivalent to university degree courses."

Mr. B. Lenihan

I am agreeing to the amendment which deals with the point made by Senators FitzGerald and Dooge in regard to whether the qualifications of other higher educational institutions would be regarded as equivalent to university degrees and the possible implications that would arise with regard to that. I propose to cover that by the words: "Approved by the Minister for the purposes of this Act" so as to make it clear that the non-university qualifications will equate only for the purposes of the Act. I am happy to meet the Senators on this point and the qualifications of the higher institutions will equate to the university only for the purposes of this Act.

Amendment agreed to.

Amendment No. 2 not moved.

Dr. Sheehy Skeffington

The Minister should be congratulated on his attitude in accepting the amendment and to the discussion on the Bill.

Mr. O'Quigley

I agree.

Bill received for final consideration and passed.