Edward Nealon
Question:197 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that in view of changes which are occurring under the current rationalisation of craft education for third level colleges, Sligo regional technical college may have to send tool making apprentices to another college which has been in tool making education only in a limited way in recent years; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that Sligo Regional Technical College has more than adequate capacity to accommodate all tool making apprentices in view of the fact that the tool making industry in Ireland is very small by international standards and is also very expensive to resource in view of the need to keep equipment and training up to date with modern technology, that there is a high concentration of tool making in the Sligo region and that splitting resources and supporting the programme for tool making education in two centres does not make economic sense; if she will ensure that all tool making apprentices be located at Sligo Regional Technical College in view of that college's history of investment and concentration of specialised staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7133/96]