Deputy Enda Kenny gave me notice of his intention to raise the matter of the question of a regional technical college being provided for Castlebar, County Mayo.
Adjournment Debate. - Castlebar (Mayo) Regional Technical College.
First, I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to raise this matter on the second last day of the 26th Dáil. I regret very much that the Minister for Education, Deputy S. Brennan, is not here to answer this charge. The question of an regional technical college facility for Castlebar has been ongoing for a number of years.
I wish to share my time with Deputy Jim Higgins, the Fine Gael spokesman on education. In 1979, when in opposition, Deputy Garret FitzGerald recommended that an regional technical college be established in Castlebar. In 1985 the then Minister for Education, Deputy Gemma Hussey, authorised such an establishment. Work proceeded to the extent that a curriculum was agreed, a site was acquired and financial sanction was written into the 1987 budget for it. Subsequent to the change of Government, Fianna Fáil have done nothing about this project.
I charge the Fianna Fáil led Government of being guilty of gross educational neglect in respect of this project for Castlebar and County Mayo. I want to publicly issue a challenge on the floor of this House, as I have done outside the House, to both of my Dáil colleagues, the Minister for Justice, Deputy Flynn, and the Minister for Education, Deputy S. Brennan, to state where the Government stand in regard to this project. Deputations of good and decent people from County Mayo were brought to Dublin. They were taken on a wild goose chase where faint hopes were held out that this project would be adopted and backed by this dying Government.
Hear, hear.
Nothing but a smokescreen has come from that. I challenge both Ministers in the dying hours of this Dáil to state where they stand on this issue. It is not good enough that the regional technical college action group, the Mayo Vocational Education Committee and the people of County Mayo should be treated in this manner. I want to state publicly that Fine Gael will authorise independent and autonomous courses in existing accommodation that will lead to a regional technical college over a number of years. That is the fundamental and essential requirement arising out of ten years of activity. There is not a need for £20 million to be put into the Estimates next year, as has been quoted by some Fianna Fáil sources. This matter could be dealt with if the Government had the political will. I wish to reiterate my public challenge to both Ministers to deal promptly and urgently with this. Otherwise during the next three weeks this campaign will be taken onto the streets and into the hearts and minds of the people. I know they will back the only political party that has given full consent and authorisation to this necessary and urgent proposal. I now wish to allow a minute of my time to Deputy Higgins.
I thank Deputy Kenny for agreeing to share time. It is incredible that the site is in place for the past seven to eight years, that the courses were agreed and that it was all systems go. Suddenly, as soon as this administration got into office in 1987, the wheels ground to a halt.
It is incredible that there are 2,000 Mayo students scattered throughout the length and breadth of Ireland, and indeed throughout the length and breadth of the United Kingdom, and that they do not have their own institution. Mayo is the third largest county in Ireland. Cork is the largest; it has got University College Cork, a regional technical college, Crawford College and a college of dentistry. Galway is the second largest; if has got University College Galway and a regional technical college. County Mayo has absolutely nothing. We have a national committee who have done excellent work. As Deputy Kenny has said, they have been led a merry dance but now the moment of truth is nigh. For a county ravaged by emigration, desolated by lack of development, which is crying out for growth and which needs a regional development college as a catalyst for growth and survival, we are extremely disappointed that the Minister for Justice, Deputy Flynn, has failed his native county. The moment of truth is nigh. Unless it is delivered upon within the next 48 hours — and that is a very short time span — I am afraid they will pay the ultimate price. The election in County Mayo will be fought on this single issue. This is the key issue; this is the litmus test of this Government's commitment to the county. Unless there is a clear categorical commitment within the next 48 hours, then upon the head of the Minister for Justice, Deputy Flynn, be it.
I am aware of the lengthy history which the Deputies have put before the House pertaining to the background to the proposed regional technical college for Castlebar. I do not propose to go over all this history on this occasion. I would, however, wish to inform the House as to the more recent developments.
In July last the Minister for Education was pleased to accede to a request from his Government colleagues, the Minister for Justice, Deputy Flynn, and the Minister for Industry and Commerce, Deputy O'Malley, to meet a deputation from the Mayo regional technical college action group to discuss the proposed regional technical college. The deputation outlined to him the history of the proposal and made a very strong case on social and economic grounds. The Minister for Education was impressed by the extent of the local commitment on this issue and he undertook to examine all the options available.
Since that time the various options have been considered in some detail in the Department of Education. Officials of the Department of Education met representatives of the action group again on 23 October and further discussed a number of options which might be pursued. Following on from that meeting it has been arranged that senior personnel, including technical staff from the Department of Education, will visit Castlebar next week to inspect a property with a view to assessing its suitability to accommodate technology based courses. A full report will then be prepared for consideration by the Minister. In his consideration of this proposal the House will not need to be reminded of the fact that the Minister for Education has considerable resource constraints.
The Government recognise the importance of third level education, as reflected in recent initiatives such as the programme of expansion of student places, major capital initiatives supported by the European Structural Funds and the commitment in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress to the importance of higher education. A third level institution for every town or, indeed, county is not practical.
The regional technical colleges were set up to serve designated regions, each region comprising a number of counties or parts of counties. North Mayo is part of the region served by Sligo Regional Technical College and south Mayo is part of the region served by Galway Regional Technical College.
Belmullet is 100 miles from both colleges.
The projected increase in student numbers and the provision of research and development support to industry can be most efficiently met through the existing network of regionally located third level institutions, universities and technological colleges.
With regard to economic development of the regions, the Green Paper on Education proposes that all third level institutions develop explicit policies for interaction with industry, with particular emphasis on the economic development of their regions and including the development of appropriate linkages between regional technical colleges and universities to further enhance the quality of service available on a regional basis. Within this context the Minister for Education will, as he has promised, look with an open mind at the options open to him and his Department pertaining to the proposal for Castlebar. He will keep the local representatives informed of progress in the matter.
I listened with interest to what Deputies said. One cannot castigate the Fianna Fáil Party either within Government or outside Government for their commitment to education.
They have not made a public comment on the issue for five years.
We have been the most progressive party in terms of the evolution of the education system over the years. The Deputies opposite should realise that when the party were in Government they made no contribution whatsoever to reaching a conclusion in regard to the location of a regional technical college in Castlebar.
That is absolute nonsense.
Now that the matter is being dealt with by a Fianna Fáil Government and Minister the proper decision will be taken at the appropriate time.
That is absolute nonsense, and the Minister knows it.