asked the Minister for Education (a) the first date at which the commission set up to inquire into the advisability of establishing a university in Limerick sat, (b) the number of meetings held by the commission since that date, and (c) the date on which the commission is expected to make its report.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Establishment of University in Limerick.
61.
I assume that the Deputy's question refers to the Commission on Higher Education, established to inquire into university, professional, technological and higher education generally. The commission's terms of reference do not specify any particular locality.
The Commission on Higher Education was established on 4th October, 1960, and held its first meeting on 8th November, 1960. Since then, it has held 26 plenary meetings, as well as 22 meetings of Working Parties and Study Groups. In addition, the commission has sat for 51 days to hear oral evidence, from 125 persons in all. The commission, or groups thereof, have visited university colleges and other institutions of higher education within the country, and small working parties have visited universities and educational authorities in Britain, Belgium and Holland. In all, a total of 147 days has been taken up in these activities.
I am not in a position to state when the commission may be expected to present its report, but it is evident from the particulars I have given that it is conducting with all possible expedition the examination of the matters submitted to it.