Vol. 443 No. 4
12 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Education if she will set up a special task force within her Department to work in conjunction with educational and vocational interests in Waterford to initiate a process which will lead to the establishment of a university in Waterford City; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
A steering committee was established under the aegis of the Higher Education Authority to advise me on the future development of the higher education sector. The committee has been asked to prepare projections to the year 2015 of the total potential enrolments in higher education and to consider, inter alia, the needs for higher education on a regional basis and the appropriateness of the current institutional provision by region to meet these needs.
I understand that the committee received submissions from educational and vocational interests in the Waterford area and that members of the technical group set up to assist the committee have visited the region. The committee is due to complete its deliberations in December and submit its recommendations to me. When I receive its recommendations I will give its proposals my urgent attention.
Is it the Minister's intention to publish the report of this committee which is due to report in December? When does she expect to publish it?
I have given a commitment to consider the proposals urgently and when the report is finalised I will consider its recommendations. The committee has been asked to consider participation rates, transfer rates of school leavers, the number of mature and second level students and participation from diadvantaged areas. We have been asked to consider many groups as well as the region which Deputy Deasy asked us to examine. The whole student cohort will be examined. The committee invited people to meet it, it is compiling its recommendations and I expect to receive them in December.
That is not what I asked the Minister. I asked her if she will publish the report she receives from the committee and, if so, when? Will the Minister give a simple answer to that question?
I have given a commitment that when I receive the report I will give the proposals my urgent attention. That is what I am committing myself to today.
Will the Minister publish the report?
I acknowledge that a report is expected, but I am sure we are all aware that additional places will be needed up to the year 2015. Will the Government give a commitment to the people in Waterford who have made a submission to the Minister? A petition in this regard will be signed in the near future. Is there a commitment to Waterford and the south east region in general which, outside Dublin, is the second most populous region in the country but which does not have a university?
I am not in a position to respond to specific questions, but one of the committee's remits is to consider student needs in a national context, examine the needs for higher education on a regional basis and the appropriateness of the current institutional provision by region to meet those demands. The Deputy referred to a specific region. As representatives from that region met the committee, I am sure it will be considered. However, it is not approprite to comment, except to say that in preparing projections to the year 2015 I requested that the recommendations should be made to me on a regional basis.
I am concerned that the Minister does not intend to publish the findings of the various advisory committees and groups she set up. In the interest of transparency — about which the Government is supposed to be so concerned — will the Minister accept that if there is an element of secrecy about reports or recommendations of the various groups set up by her it will create a great deal of suspicion? It is essential that the recommendations are published.
I not the Deputy's remarks.
I accept what the Minister said about specific regions. Nevertheless, will she ensure that facilities are not located only in regions in which there are universities, but that other areas will be seriously considered? There are five major cities and four of them, Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick, have a regional college and a university. The south eastern region is discriminated against in regard to such facilities.
I asked that the information and advice be given to me on a regional basis. The global needs of the economy and society must also be considered that includes regional, socioeconomic and equality considerations. Student and labour market demands formulate the best estimates for an appropriate balance in the sector in terms of intake in total school student numbers. The terms of reference cover university and non-university sectors, sub-degrees undergraduates and postgraduates, disciplines and institutions and teacher education with reference to specialist teacher requirements such as home economics, art and music. The word "regional" is covered by the terms of reference and given the composition of the committee sitting under the aegis of a higher education authority and I am sure the Deputy's concerns will be addressed.
