Vol. 461 No. 7
43 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Education when she will implement the recommendation of the interim report of the Technical Working Group of the Steering Committee on the future development of education, to provide university status for the south-east located in Waterford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3667/96]
46 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education if she will request the Higher Education Authority's Steering Committee on future development of higher education to undertake a study of the existing provision in third-level education in the south-west region and to make recommendations following this study to facilitate further growth and expansion in this sector in the region to the year 2010. [3744/96]
47 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for Education when she will implement the recommendation of the interim report of the Technical Working Group of the Steering Committee on the future development of education, to provide university status for the south-east located in Waterford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3666/96]
51 Mr. M. Brennan asked the Minister for Education if she will request the Higher Education Authority's Steering Committee on future development of higher education to undertake a study of the existing provision in third-level education in the south-west region and to make recommendations following this study to facilitate further growth and expansion in this sector in the region to the year 2010. [3748/96]
68 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Education if she will request the Higher Education Authority's Steering Committee on future development of higher education to undertake a study of the existing provision in third-level education in the south west region and to make recommendations following this study to facilitate further growth and expansion in this sector in the region to the year 2010. [3741/96]
90 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Education if she will request the Higher Education Authority's Steering Committee on future development of higher education to undertake a study of the existing provision in third-level education in the south west region and to make recommendations following this study to facilitate further growth and expansion in this sector in the region to the year 2010. [3743/96]
94 Mr. O'Leary asked the Minister for Education if she will request the Higher Education Authority's Steering Committee on future development of higher education to undertake a study of the existing provision in third-level education in the south west region and to make recommendations following this study to facilitate further growth and expansion in this sector in the region to the year 2010. [3745/96]
95 Mr. O'Dea asked the Minister for Education when she will implement the recommendation of the interim report of the Technical Working Group of the Steering Committee on the future development of education, to provide university status for the south east located in Waterford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3668/96]
98 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Education the progress, if any, that has been made towards the upgrading of Waterford regional technical college to a college of technology or preferably a university; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3785/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 46, 47, 51, 68, 90, 94, 95 and 98 together.
The Steering Committee on the future Development of Higher Education was established under the aegis of the Higher Education Authority to advise on the future development of the higher educational system.
The committee's published report is based on a comprehensive and rigorous analysis of the demographic and policy framework and a thorough examination of the needs of all regions, including the south-east and the south-west.
The report of the steering committee takes account of the interim report of the technical working group which was established to support the steering committee and carried out research to facilitate the committee's consideration of the range of issues involved.
Having considered the technical working group's findings the steering committee recommended an increase in student places in Waterford regional technical college, an increase in the degree level awards and a change of title to Regional Institute of Technology.
The steering committee also set out indicative full-time student numbers by institution for the years 2000/01 and 2006/07. These included large increases in numbers in the universities and Regional Technical Colleges in Cork and Limerick and in the Regional Technical College, Tralee.
The report of the steering committee is currently being examined together with the recommendations of the Higher Education Authority. When the report has been fully considered I will take the necessary decisions on the various recommendations in consultation with my colleagues in Government.
