Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Apr 1994

Vol. 441 No. 5

Written Answers. - Third Level Places.

Phil Hogan

Question:

36 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Education the number of positions available to students at each of the universities to undertake higher diploma in education degrees for each of the years from 1980 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

The number of students taking the Higher Diploma in Education course in each of the universities since 1980 is given in a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report. The total number decreased from 1,338 in the academic year 1980-81 to 601 in the academic year 1990-91. In the light of the fall in demand for the Higher Diploma in Education Course and the fact that there are five university education departments the then Minister requested the Higher Education Authority to enter into discussions with the relevant Colleges with a view to a rationalisation of the situation.

The Higher Education Authority established a committee representative of the Authority, the Universities and my Department which sets for each institution an intake quota for the Higher Education Diploma in Education Course and keeps the whole matter under review generally. I understand that the total intake quota for the 1994-95 academic year will be 800.

The number of students taking Higher Diploma in Education degree courses in each of the universities since 1980 was as follows.

	UCD	UCC	UCG	TCD	SPM	Total
1980-81	392	356	310	126	154	1,338
1981-82	344	335	340	144	148	1,311
1982-83	359	304	328	132	153	1,276
1983-84	323	303	307	132	161	1,226
1984-85	287	255	302	124	147	1,120
1985-86	276	223	305	112	161	1,077
1986-87	256	302	304	120	145	1,127
1987-88	215	259	256	114	159	1,003
1988-89	171	192	206	79	144	792
1989-90	127	170	146	82	150	675
1990-91	146	132	166	86	121	601
1991-92	134	193	168	91	164	750
1992-93	164	186	178	98	150	775
1993-94	190	239	321	123	154	1,027
1994-95 (Proposed)						800