asked the Minister for Education if he will make a statement on the status of the National Electronics Institute, Tivoli, Cork.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Electronics Institute.
79.
The National Electronics Institute, Tivoli, Cork is not in connection with my Department and I have no function in relation to it.
I may add that I am concerned that students who wish to secure qualifications in the technological area should be in a position readily to obtain reliable information in relation to recognised courses available for such purpose. Consideration will be given to the question of what further measures may be desirable in that regard.
Would the Minister not agree that the Minister for Education has a responsibility to see to it that any institution, posing as such, ready and competent to deliver a certain course should, in fact, be able to deliver that course? Would the Minister not agree that the Minister for Education has some function in this matter where students and their rights are concerned?
It is my understanding that the Minister's powers in matters of this kind are, in fact, very limited, and in some areas non-existent. Therefore, I think the Deputy may be asking for the impossible in some respects. He may also be asking for the desirable.
Would the Minister not agree that, as happened in Britain, when certain schools were operating and were not in fact, what they claimed to be, were not delivering the educational package they claimed to be delivering, legislation would be necessary in such cases? Would it not be something to which the Minister could direct his attention?
I think that in order to deal with some problems in this area legislation would be necessary to fill gaps existing at present. I will convey to the Minister the Deputy's feeling that a case for legislation exists.