Vol. 397 No. 3
194 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education if she will make a statement on the continuation of the diploma course in plastics engineering at Athlone regional technical college, County Westmeath; and, in view of the concern caused by recent staff decisions, if she will make arrangements to provide for the diploma courses for students at this college in the future.
The question of course structure and organisation is a matter in the first instance for the college authorities and I have no direct involvement in the process.
The current situation is that Athlone regional technical college run two courses in the plastics area: the four year ab initio degree course leading to a B.Sc. in polymer technology and a two year national certificate course in plastics from which eligible students may follow on to a one year national diploma course.
The matter is to be discussed at a meeting of the board of management to be held on 22 March 1990 and if it can be shown that there would be sufficient demand for the national diploma year of the course in September 1990 the matter will be reconsidered.
