asked the Minister for Education the international consultancy group which is examining the third level technological sector outside of the universities; if this task was originally given to the National Board for Science and Technology; the reason the NBST is not now being used for this task; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Third Level Technological Education.
42.
The international consultancy group to which the Deputy refers is the study group set up by my predecessor in the Autumn of last year to examine third-level technological education outside the universities and the case for a new technological university.
The group is under the chairmanship of Mr. T.P. Hardiman, Chairman of the Investment Bank of Ireland, and a former Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Board for Science and Technology and former Director General of Radio Telefís Éireann. The Deputy Chairman is Professor Michael J. McCormac, Emeritus Professor of Business Administration, UCD, and director of a number of companies. The other members of the group are Dr. Oskar Mahrenholtz, University of Hamburg, Germany, Dr. R.E. Bishop, Vice-Chancellor of Brunel University, Great Britain and Dr. Douglas Wright, President of Waterloo University, Canada. The task which this group is undertaking was not given to the National Board for Science and Technology at any stage. The issues being examined are primarily educational ones, and I am satisfied that it is appropriate to have the task carried out by an international group under the aegis of the Higher Education Authority, as is being done.