asked the Minister for Education the cost of a university student; and the staff/student ratio in Irish universities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - University Costs.
40.
The average cost to State funds of a university student in 1970-71 was £428. The full-time staff/ student ratios in the academic year 1970-71 were as follows:—
|
University College, Dublin |
1:17 |
|
University College, Cork |
1:17 |
|
University College, Galway |
1:19 |
|
Trinity College, Dublin |
1:17 |
What does the Minister consider to be the significance of giving a figure of £428 per student when he knows well, as I have reminded him time and again, that students in certain faculties are costing the country nothing while students in other faculties are costing the country more than £1,000 per year each?
I have been asked——
I know the Minister has replied to the question he was asked but would it not have been better for him to have said there was no meaning to the question?
The Deputy should ask Deputy Enright that question.
Does the Minister not realise——
I am calling Question No. 41.
——that a figure of £428 per year is no answer when there is such a variation in what students cost the country? For instance, students in the two veterinary faculties cost the State £1,500 a year each. Did the Minister's Department do any work on the question?
What the Minister is certain of is that the average cost to the State was £428.
That figure was reached when the State grants were divided among the number of students, in the same way as the GNP and other figures are reached.