asked the Minister for Education when he expects to receive the views of the higher education authority regarding the establishment of a university in Limerick.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Limerick Higher Education Facilities.
45.
I expect to receive the recommendations of the Higher Education Authority regarding the establishment of an institution of third level education at Limerick within the next month.
What will happen then? In other words, at what stage does the Minister propose to introduce legislation in relation to the establishment of a university at Limerick? To judge by his phraseology now, the Minister is still not prepared to concede or he does not seem to realise that we are looking for a university for Limerick. Can we make it simple? It will be a university. At what stage will the Minister introduce legislation to establish a university in Limerick?
I have already answered that question in reply to supplementary questions on the last question. Would the Deputy leave over the matter until we introduce the legislation when we will have a full discussion about all the merits of this particular idea of where we are going in regard to higher education? We can have a very full debate here in the House on it. The Bill will be introduced very shortly.
There is a certain degree of concern in regard to this whole matter. In other words, is there any danger or are there any grounds for the present fears that when the Minister receives the report of the Higher Education Authority he will proceed to introduce legislation here without giving an advance proof to our university committee in Limerick to enable further discussion?
The committee will have their discussions. The Government will have to make a decision. Then the matter will come before the Dáil for its decision. It will be the normal democratic process.