Vol. 239 No. 2
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Dáil Éireann debate - Wednesday, 12 Mar 1969
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Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Limeri...
(South Tipperary), Mr. Coughlan, Mr. Tierney, Mr. Treacy and Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Education if the Government have considered the proposals of the Limerick University Project Committee, following his promise to recommend the establishment of a university for the Limerick region; and, if so, with what results.
68.
(South Tipperary), Mr. Coughlan, Mr. Tierney, Mr. Treacy and Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Education if he is prepared to accept the recommendations on higher education in the Limerick region as published in the Lichfield report issued on Tuesday, 4th March, 1969.
69.
(South Tipperary), Mr. Coughlan, Mr. Tierney, Mr. Treacy and Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Education if he will explain his recent reference to a polytechnic in Limerick having regard to his undertaking that no decision on third level education for the Limerick region would be made until after (a) he had received the report of the Higher Education Authority and (b) he had further consultations with the Limerick University Project Committee.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 67, 68 and 69 together.
As I have explained to the House on a number of occasions the views of the Higher Education Authority have been sought in relation to the nature and extent of the institution of third level education to be provided in Limerick.
I expect to have the recommendations of the Higher Education Authority on the matter shortly. Following this I hope to give an early decision in relation to it.
I do not feel, therefore, that any further statement is called for a present.
Will the Minister take any notice of the recommendation made by Dr. Lichfield in his Report in regard to this matter long before the Report of the Committee on Higher Education is considered by the Minister? Is this not a subterfuge by the Minister to back down from the promises which he made, and which his predecessor made, that a university with full faculties would be provided in Limerick?
I have read Dr. Lichfield's Report with very great interest. When I said "shortly", I mean in a matter of a week or so. I hope to have a very full and comprehensive report from the Higher Education Authority prepared by them after two consultations, as the Deputy knows, on the spot in Limerick. What I promised the deputation from Limerick which saw me in January last was that we would take up this matter with every expedition. In fact this has been done and a sub-committee of the Higher Education Authority has visited Limerick, has seen all the interested parties, and is fully au fait with all the facts.
I hope to have their report within a week or ten days after which I shall then consult with the responsible people in Limerick who are interested in having an appropriate educational establishment in Limerick. Following that discussion with them the Government will announce its decision and we shall have legislation in the Dáil to deal with that and a number of other matters in relation to higher education.
In view of the Minister's statement that he does not wish to make any statement until he has the Report of the Higher Education Authority how can he explain his use of the word "polytechnic"?
Because, again, it is on all fours with the Lichfield Report which used the word "university" and followed the use of that word with the phrase "orientated towards technological subjects". In my view polytechnic is a reasonable description of a university orientated towards technological subjects.
Can we take it that the Minister has already made up his mind as to what type of institution he will have in Limerick and that he is only bluffing——
There is no question of bluffing here at all. I intend to see the committee from Limerick that I met last January. I would direct the Deputy's attention to the actual phraseology used in the Lichfield Report which says "a university orientated towards technological subjects". As far as the Limerick area is concerned the Government have taken a firm decision, which I am sure the Limerick Deputies in the Fine Gael Party and the Labour Party support, to develop the whole Shannon region as an industrial zone, and to attract industrial development from the Dublin area. This major area of industrial development will require technicians and technologists who can be paid well and can be recruited from our own people in that area. We want the sort of educational and training institution in Limerick that suits the future industrial needs of that area.
That sounds like a general election speech.
(Cavan): Arising out of the Minister's earlier reference to instant politics, would the Minister explain the delay, in view of the fact that outside St. Munchin's Church in Limerick on the Sunday before the by-election he had an instant solution to all this? That instant solution was, pointing to a field across his shoulder, that he was going to provide a full-blown university almost the following week.
He was to drain the Shannon a few years before that.
Will the Minister assure this House now that he will give a decision in favour of a university for Limerick before the general election? Will he bear in mind, too, the fact that the school of technology, which he is trying to confuse with the university project, was allotted to Limerick years ago because of developments taking place there as a result of pressure by the Labour Party in Limerick?
Order. Question No. 70.
