Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Nov 1995

Vol. 458 No. 6

Adjournment Debate. - Third Level Places in Cork.

Mr. B. O'Keeffe

My dissatisfaction about this matter arises from the steering committee's report on higher education. In 1994-95 there were approximately 3,600 students in Cork regional technical college, representing 10.2 per cent of the regional technical college-DIT sector. The proposed increase of 4,600 for the year 2000-01 represents a reduction to 9.4 per cent of that sector and the proposed increase of 4,800 for the year 2006-07 represents a further reduction to 9.1 per cent. If the institutions in the areas included in the committee's terms of reference for special review — Mayo, Tipperary and the south east and Dublin regions — are excluded, Cork regional technical college will suffer the second highest percentage reduction in the sector for the year 2000-01 and the highest reduction for the year 2006-07. Furthermore, as a result of the report Cork regional technical college will be demoted from its current leading position in the regional technical college sector. It will take second place next to Waterford and will be almost on a par with Galway regional technical college. The Minister is aware of the excellent standards at Cork regional technical college and surely must consider this undesirable.

Cork regional technical college is unable to meet current student demands and is the most difficult college in which to obtain a place. In 1995 the number of leaving certificate points required for applied chemistry courses in Cork was 345, for Tralee it was 205 and for Waterford it was 300. The number of entry points for biology was 365 for Cork, 235 for Tralee and 300 for Waterford. The number of points for computing was 340 for Cork, 205 for Tralee and 270 for Waterford.

First preference applications for diploma and certificate courses show that Galway and Waterford regional technical colleges got 67 per cent and 55 per cent, respectively, of Cork's regional technical college's 8,211 first preference applications. In 1993-94, 3,441 students from Cork city and county enrolled in regional technical colleges, but 1,030 were unable to obtain a place in Cork. Even though their first preference was Cork, they had to travel to other regional technical colleges to do courses. In 1995 the Cork college was unable to offer places to more than 3,000 applicants.

Students from Cork city and county are severely disadvantaged compared with their counterparts in other regions and parents must bear the cost of sending them to neighbouring colleges in Tralee, Waterford or Limerick. Statistical data supplied in reply to a parliamentary question I tabled last year showed that approximately one-third of the students who enrolled in the Tralee regional technical college came from the Cork area. Why, therefore, allocate £20 million or £30 million to Tralee regional technical college when there is a crying need to increase the number of places in Cork?

Cork University will also suffer severely as a result of the report, its share of the university sector will reduce from 17.1 per cent in 1994-95 to 16.4 per cent in 2006-07. Rather than improve the position, if the steering committee's recommendations are adopted by the Minister, Cork students will be further disadvantaged.

In reviewing regional needs, I understand the technical working group was required to pay particular regard to requests and proposals for expanded higher education facilities in the south east. Tipperary and Mayo and the adequacy of the provision of such places within the Dublin area to meet the needs of socially and economically deprived areas. Those areas were the subject of extensive review by the steering committee but the Cork region was not earmarked for special study. The disadvantaged suffered because the question of students seeking entry to Cork regional technical college was not on the agenda.

As the Minister is from Cork, will he ensure that a special case study of student needs in the Cork area — in the university or the regional technical college — is carried out? If that does not happen, many more students will have to go to universities and regional technical colleges elsewhere and that would be unfair to the student body crying out for places in Cork.

Minister of State at the Department of Education (Mr. Allen)

Deputy O'Keeffe referred to the provision of third level places in Cork arising from the findings of the steering committee's report. He asked me to ensure that Cork is included in the terms of reference. The report to which he referred was commissioned by a Government of which he was a party.

Mr. B. O'Keeffe

I asked the Minister to review the matter.

Mr. Allen

The Government is dealing with the report and recommendations submitted by that steering group.

I am pleased to have an opportunity to respond to the Deputy and to clarify the position regarding the future development of the higher education sector. I assume the Deputy is referring to the report of the Steering Committee on the Future Development of Higher Education established by the Minister for Education under the aegis of the Higher Education Authority to advise her on the development of the higher education system.

Higher education has changed dramatically in the past three decades. A fourfold increase in student numbers has been accompanied by a significant structural change leading to a far more complex and diversified system. The brief of the steering committee was to chart developments in higher education over the next 20 years with particular reference to the projected future growth of the system and the financial implications of this growth, the projected disposition of growth between the university and extra university sectors between qualification levels, as well as regional needs addressing in particular proposals for new or enhanced facilities in the greater Dublin area, Counties Waterford, Mayo and Tipperary. The Deputy can see that County Cork was excluded in the terms of reference given by that Government. The brief also covered participation in higher education by disadvantaged, mature and second chance students.

The work of the steering committee was supported by a technical working group whose report was published in January 1995 and was based on detailed investigations by the technical working group, including a comprehensive analysis of demographic trends and projections.

The steering committee, representing a wide range of interests connected with higher education, undertook its own detailed deliberations following receipt of this report which provided it with crucial data and analysis to underpin them. It also took account of submissions received from interested parties. The finalisation of the report was informed by, and took account of, the policy directions of the White Paper on education.

The Deputy will be aware of the Government decision of 13 September, 1995, to create 6,200 additional places in the university sector at a cost of £60 million. These additional places will be allocated among the seven universities, including University College Cork, over the next five years and will be funded through matching funds from the public and private sectors. This is the result of an initiative by the universities to commit £30 million of funding from private sources to capital development in their sector over the next five years. The Government decisions ensure the State will match the funding of £30 million over the same period.

The creation of additional student places is a positive move by the Government in meeting the projected growth in the third level student numbers as outlined in the report of the steering committee on the future development of higher education. The Minister is particularly satisfied that the creation of these additional student places will greatly improve the opportunity for increased participation in third level education.

The Government has, as part of the national development plan, already approved a capital investment programme of £120 million for third level education for the period up to 1999. Some 75 per cent of this funding will be financed by a non-payable grant from the European Regional Development Fund with the balance being sought by way of an EIB loan.

The current position is that the report furnished by the steering committee is now being examined in the Department together with the Higher Education Authority's recommendations on the matter. When this examination is completed, the necessary decision will be made, having regard to the available resources. Pending this, I am not in a position to indicate what specific action will be taken in any area. The role of Cork regional technical college and the development of industry and commerce in Cork and its performance over the years since it was set up will be recognised. Rather than talking down its role, both I and the Government will support its futher development.