Mervyn Taylor
Question:74 Mr. Taylor asked the Minister for Education the plans she has for a regional technical college to serve the growing population of Blanchardstown, County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Blanchardstown, Dublin, RTC.
Tomás MacGiolla
Question:80 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for Education when she intends to sanction the building of the regional technical college which was approved for Blanchardstown, County Dublin, which has a population of over 50,000, and is growing rapidly.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 80 together.
The provision of places in universities, regional, technical and other third level colleges is kept under review in my Department.
The Deputies will be aware that under the terms of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress special initiatives will create almost 9,000 additional third level places within the period of the programme. Initiatives include the provision of 3,600 places in universities under arrangements initiated by the Government in the 1990 budget, the provision of funding to UCD for the acquisition of Carysfort College, 600+places at Belfield, the utilisation of spare capacity in the colleges of education, including Thomond College, involving linkages within the university system, 1,500 places, and the provision of a new regional technical college in Tallaght, County Dublin, and other third level facilities under the national development plan, 2,000 places. The possibility of a further 1,000 places being provided with private sector financial participation is being explored by one of the universities.