asked the Minister for Education if he will arrange that third-level education scholarships awarded by his Department will be tenable by students attending the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Institute for Higher Education.
12.
Mr. R. Burke
I will arrange that Easter Week commemoration scholarships will be tenable at degree-level courses in the Institute for Higher Education in Limerick.
The other two university scholarship schemes operated by my Department— for Gaeltacht pupils and for pupils who have studied through Irish—are designed for students who will follow degree courses through Irish. Such scholarships could not be made tenable at the Limerick institute until such time as suitable courses through Irish are available in the institute.
13.
asked the Minister for Education if he will state in relation to the National Institute for Higher Education (a) its status (b) if it will have power to grant its own degrees and (c) the name to be ascribed to it.
Mr. R. Burke
As the Deputy will be aware, the present arrangement under which the National institute for Higher Education, Limerick, is managed and administered by a planning board, is purely temporary in character pending the introduction of legislation under which the institute will be established on a statutory basis. The precise title, status, powers and functions to be accorded to the institute will be clearly defined in that legislation in due course.
Would the Minister indicate when he will grade the National Institute for Higher Education in Limerick and how long will "in due course" take?
Mr. R. Burke
I cannot give the Deputy a precise date by which the legislation will be ready but I am working on it as hard as I can.
Will the Minister indicate a specific time because we have been hanging fire in Limerick for the last three years on this issue? When will it be graded?
The Minister has already given the Deputy an answer.
Mr. R. Burke
As soon as possible. Chomh luath agus is féidir.
How long is "as soon as possible "? There are students who have been waiting three, four and five years.
Mr. R. Burke
I have only been in office three months.