asked the Minister for Education what plans exist to provide residential accommodation for students at University College, Belfield, Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - UCD Residential Accommodation.
66.
My Department have no such plans. The funds which are available for capital grants to the universities must continue to be devoted to providing the lecture halls, laboratories and other facilities which are necessary so that the colleges may serve the academic requirements of the students.
If a proposal is made by UCD with regard to residential accommodation from their own resources, the Department not being required to do anything other than provide a second guarantee, would the Minister be agreeable to such a proposal?
I could not give the Deputy any guarantee on that. I will not say that I am excluding it, but I am fairly close to excluding it. This kind of question is not as simple as it appears. If funds are available to me I shall utilise them in relation to my range of priorities.
Would the Minister not consider this proposal as it would not involve any charge on the Department, the possible loss involved would be small and would be borne by the college? The charge would arise only if the college went bankrupt, which is highly improbable, even despite the lack of funds. In those circumstances as there is no practical possibility of any charge on the Department, would the Minister not agree to this proposal?
I would have to look very carefully at it.