Vol. 465 No. 3
24 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Education when she will make decisions on the findings of the committee she established to study the third level education system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9569/96]
Decisions have already been taken as part of the report. As the Deputy will be aware, I have already announced the provision of 6,200 additional places in the university sector over the next five years. These places will involve a capital investment of £60 million to be provided by equal contributions of public and private sector funding.
In addition, I have begun consultations with the authorities in the regional technical colleges regarding the change of title for these colleges, as recommended in the report.
I regard these initiatives as the first steps in the implementation of the recommendations of the steering committee report. The decision in regard to the university sector is a major step forward in the implementation of the report.
I intend to take further decisions on the implementation of the recommendations in consultation with my colleagues in Government.
Has the Minister made a decision regarding upgrading the regional technical college in Waterford from the status of regional technical college to university or even to an institute of technology. Will she make an announcement to that effect in the near future?
It is hard to see how that relates to this question.
It is dealt with in the report.
If the Deputy wants a simple answer, it is that I have not taken that decision.
When can we expect a decision on the reform and reorganisation of the regional technical college sector and the change of name which was signalled some time ago? The longer it is delayed the longer the regional technical colleges will remain in limbo. Deputy Deasy's question regarding Waterford is very pertinent to the report. Many people in Waterford and throughout the country are awaiting the implementation of the recommendations in the report, not least in the north-west area of Dublin city which has been identified as the area of greatest need in terms of the provision of third level education, particularly regional technical college education. The lowest participation rate in third level education is in that area. I would appreciate it if the Minister would say when she intends to take decisions on this issue.
I have already taken decisions. At the regional technical colleges' annual conference, which I attended, I suggested to them that there should be a new title for the regional technical colleges and asked them to respond to that recommendation.
It is not fair to the regional technical college sector to say it is in limbo. I refer the Deputy to the White Paper position regarding the future of the regional technical colleges which are very much part and parcel of third level options. Interestingly enough, more students went to the regional technical college sector than to the university sector last year. I spelt out in the White Paper what I see as twin missions for the regional technical college and university sectors. I indicated that the regional technical college sector will come under the remit of the Higher Education Authority so that we will be able to plan for the future. The committee report that was made available to me was one for which I asked so that as decisions were taken and we increased investment in the third level sector, the necessary information and projections on size, demographic trends would be available to me.
While I have been in a position to respond positively to some of the recommendations, many of them have significant financial implications and they will only be considered with my Cabinet colleagues.
There was a specific recommendation in one of the working committee's reports that Waterford regional technical college be upgraded. There was no reference to the upgrading of any other regional technical college in a similar manner. Does the Minister intend to stick by this recommendation?
There was a recommendation in the report that Waterford regional technical college should expand to 5,000 places and that there should be a major focus on growth at degree level. This has financial implications and must be taken in the context of the overall plan that the Government will put in place for the development of this sector. I am satisfied that we have sufficient knowledge and information to allow us take a planned approach to the expansion of this exciting sector.
The Minister's ship is ashore while all other boats have put out to sea. On the question of third level places and the demands of industry, the Minister has been made aware by the IDA that, over the past seven years, there has been a lack of graduates in certain technological areas. Nothing has been done about improving this until this year. Will the Minister take cognisance of the raw deal given to Cork regional technical college in the higher education committee report in terms of the number of additional places to be granted to the college?
I am unaware of any raw deals for Cork. A sum of £3.75 million will provide central facilities, hotel training, tourism and information technology. I can continue with information on Dundalk, Galway, Athlone, Carlow——
What about Tralee?
— Letterkenny, Sligo, Tallaght and Tralee. The investment that is planned and in place will be of benefit to Cork regional technical college. I look forward to a return visit. It is one of the most exciting regional colleges I have visited.
