asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, there are to retain the Nautical College at Dún Laoghaire; and if he will make a general statement in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dún Laoghaire Nautical College.
79.
Mr. R. Burke
There are no plans, as far as my Department are concerned, to retain the Nautical College at Dún Laoghaire. I have made arrangements to provide nautical training in the new Regional Technical College in Cork.
The Minister has not been fulsome in his reply to my question. He is aware that, arising out of representations by myself and other Deputies in the constituency, he is maintaining the Nautical College in Dún Laoghaire until September, 1975. Is not that correct?
Mr. R. Burke
Yes.
Could the Minister not given an adequate reply to my he not agree that here we have on the east coast a ready-made situation for a nautical college and for the extension of sea knowledge generally? Why does the Minister want to close this college down? We have a tremendous history of sea-faring on the east coast. I do not wish in any way to denigrate or underrate the contribution made by the Cork College. There is a need for that in Cork, too. I would especially appeal to the Minister to retain this Nautical College in Dún Laoghaire. I think the Taoiseach would agree with me on that, if that is any help to the Minister.
Mr. R. Burke
The Irish Nautical College in Dún Laoghaire is a private institution run by a committee of management composed of representatives of shipping interests. Under the Vocational Act, the college receives an annual maintenance grant from the Department of Education in connection with the courses of technical education provided by it. It is proposed to cease payment of the maintenance grant to the Nautical College on the transfer to the Cork Regional Technical College. If the Nautical College in Dún Laoghaire can make financial arrangements with any other agency to carry on without the aid of the Department's grant, it will be a matter for the committee of management to decide whether the college should continue to operate in some form in Dún Laoghaire.
It is a disgrace.
Mr. R. Burke
The Department are not legally bound to make a maintenance grant to the college. They do so merely in the furtherance of technical education.
Would the Minister not agree with the people who approached Deputy Andrews and myself on this subject that it is imposing a severe hardship on people who have an interest in the sea and need this training to have to go down to Cork for it?
Mr. R. Burke
There is no need for the Irish Nautical College in Dún Laoghaire to cease functioning if it can run under its own steam and does not ask the Department of Education for funds.
I do not know how this horse can live everywhere without grass.
What type of thinking suggests that the Minister should withdraw the grant from the Nautical College?
Mr. R. Burke
I can answer that simply.
Would the Minister agree that the vocational educational committee in Dún Laoghaire, which contains a fair cross-section of the community and represents the political parties in the community, want the Nautical College retained and want the grant from the Department to be continued to ensure its retention?
Mr. R. Burke
The Deputy may be interested to know that I am agreeing with the decision made by the previous Administration on foot of a survey set up in 1968 and reporting in 1969.
I am concerned with the existence of the Nautical College in Dún Laoghaire. It is fair to say that all the political parties want it to remain there. I could not care less about the previous decision. The Minister is trying to play politics with this. That is a matter for himself, and for his own conscience. I am asking him to ensure that the Nautical College in Dún Laoghaire will continue to be paid the grant by the Department and that it will be developed.
Mr. R. Burke
Funds are not sufficiently available to allow us to duplicate facilities in many places. Since arrangements are being made for nautical training in the Regional Technical College in Cork, I do not see why we should duplicate these facilities in Dún Laoghaire. I would invite Deputies to realise that the college in Dún Laoghaire may continue to operate provided it regulates its own affairs.
Is the Minister saying that the money which will be spent in Cork will be adequate considering the economic importance of harvesting the sea? Is the Minister aware that all administrations regarded this as very important and that all academic institutions have encouraged it?
The Deputy is widening the question.
Mr. R. Burke
I can assure the Deputy that the provision made in Cork will be adequate.
I do not believe it.
What about the staff of the college?
Mr. R. Burke
The staff have been offered employment in the marine department of the new Regional Technical College in Cork on conditions not less favourable than these they now enjoy in Dún Laoghaire.
Would the Minister not agree that there is great hardship involved in transferring these families from one area to another? Indeed, there is a social problem. The Minister has an obligation in the context of social justice to maintain this Nautical College in Dún Laoghaire.
The Minister should reconsider it. Only a few pounds are involved.
Mr. R. Burke
Only last week we made arrangements between the Department and the various interests involved to secure the smooth transfer of these facilities to Cork.
Would the Minister not reconsider it?
It will kill interest in the area.
It is a disgraceful situation. However, the matter will be pursued further. The Taoiseach will not be too happy about it.