asked the Minister for Education whether any research has been done on the costs of an open university compared to traditional institutions and on their relative educational effectiveness.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cost of Open University.
32.
The concept of the open university has been considered from time to time by my Department both in relation to its suitability to conditions in this country and to cost. Available information is not sufficient to allow of any firm decisions being taken as to the desirability of introducing the concept in this country or of the costs that would be involved, but indications are that the costs would be very considerable.
As I have stated before, our financial commitments in relation to education generally are now so high that for the present, at any rate, I could not contemplate adding to them, nor is it apparent to me that, the establishment of an open university could rank among our immediate priorities in education.