asked the Minister for Education if he is yet in a position to announce a commencement date in respect of the Ballymun third level education complex, Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ballymun Education Complex.
33.
Mr. R. Burke
The proposals of the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee for a new technological/higher commercial college at Ballymun are intrinsically bound up with the future development of third-level education generally, particularly in the Dublin area.
Proposals in relation to the reorganisation of third-level education are at present being examined. It will not be possible to think in terms of a commencement date for specific projects until the Government have reached decisions in the matter.
Would the Minister accept that the need for the proposed complex is self evident and should not require any additional examination?
Mr. R. Burke
The Deputy is asking me to prejudge the Government's decision in regard to the suitability of these works and this is something I cannot do.
I am not asking the Minister to do anything of the kind. I am asking the Minister, as a responsible Minister for Education, if he would accept, as an educationalist and as a responsible Minister, that the need for this complex is self evident?
The Deputy has already posed that question.
Mr. R. Burke
I am glad that from being an unsuitable Minister some months ago I am now becoming a more responsible one. I have my own views in regard to the suitability or otherwise of this proposal and I have discussed it with a number of people, including the VEC. The matter is at present before the Government for consideration and I do not wish to prejudge their decision.
Could we get an indication of the responsibility which we are granting to the Minister and obtain his own view on something which is so vital to third-level education in Dublin and the whole country?
Deputy Wilson.
With all due respects to the Chair why should the Chair stymie the Minister from answering my question?
I am not doing that and I cannot compel a Minister to answer either.
The Chair might just wait a moment to see if the Minister wishes to answer.
The Deputy has repeated his question.
The Ministers should be able to stand on their own feet by now.
The Chair certainly is and the Deputy need have no fear about that.
With respect, it was the Minister the Deputy was referring to and not the Chair.
Mr. R. Burke
If it was the Minister he was referring to I can tell the Leader of the Opposition that the Minister does not need any help from his side either. My reply to Deputy Tunney is that I have my own views on this proposal and I am putting them to the Government. I feel I should await the decision of the Government before I make it public.
Is the Minister saying that the Ballymun project is dependent on decisions with regard to universities?
Mr. R. Burke
That is the import of the answer I have just given to the House.
How can this possibly be so? How can a decision on technological education depend on a decision on university education?
Mr. R. Burke
The Deputy misunderstands the situation if he thinks that what is being examined is university education. It is the totality of third-level education that is being examined.