Vol. 465 No. 3
19 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Education her views on the impact the free fees scheme will have in relation to pressure on college places in the 1996/97 academic year; the resources, if any, she will provide for capital investment in universities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9649/96]
A major policy objective of the Government is to promote equality of access to higher education, irrespective of social class, age or disability, for all who have the capacity to benefit from it.
In considering the likely impact of the free fees initiative on demand for third level places it is important to have regard to the following factors: (a) the number of students sitting the leaving certificate examination in 1996 will be more than 6,000 lower than in 1995; (b) the number of applications through the CAO for third level places in 1996 is expected to be more than 3,000 lower than in 1995; (c) pressure on full-time places in publicly funded colleges will also be eased by a number of new initiatives that are due to come into effect in the 1996-97 academic year. These include the extension of maintenance grants to students studying abroad, the provision of tax relief on tuition fees paid for certain full-time courses in approved private colleges and for approved part-time courses in a range of colleges.
In addition to these initiatives, I have also announced a comprehensive university building programme. At my request the Government approved in September 1995 a £60 million capital investment programme to provide 6,200 additional places in the period 1996 to 2000. This programme is unique in that the funding is being provided under a joint initiative which combines the public and private sectors in providing £30 million each for capital developments in the sector for the first time at national level.
I am providing £46.5 million under the European Regional Development Fund 1994-99 programme for a range of specifically targeted capital projects to facilitate the universities in developing areas which are important to economic growth and job creation e.g. food business in UCC, pharmacy and microelectronics at TCD and science facilities at DCU and St. Patrick's College, Maynooth are among those already announced.
I am not sure the Minister has answered my question on the impact the free fees scheme will have in relation to pressure on college places. As the Minister has not answered that question I put it to her again. I thought the purpose of the scheme was to ensure that more students would have the opportunity to attend university in the forthcoming academic year. The Minister has talked about future developments in relation to the capital investment programme. Is she aware that at examination time there is enormous pressure on library places in University College Dublin? What is the Minister's view on how that immediate concern can be alleviated for those students who are facing examinations? Is she saying the free fees scheme will not have any impact?
I thought I had answered the question. I referred to the pressure on college places. I also made the point that students who have the capacity to benefit from third level education should do so. The Deputy may be interested to note that the number of students who applied through the Central Applications Office for the academic year 1995-96 was 62,913 and for the year 1996-97 the number is 56,695. On the application data from the CAO we are aware of the number of students seeking places. Towards the end of the year we look back on those applications, those who were successful and the different paths pursued. Conscious of the numbers of places required and the need to provide capital for buildings, I am satisfied that the free fees initiative will allow students with the capacity to benefit from third level education to do so. The capital investment I have overseen in buildings for that sector has not been seen in the history of the State.
The Minister has said that the number of applications for the academic year 1996-97 is down but she has not spoken about the number of places that will be available to those applying. What is her analysis of the reason for the reduction in the number of applications for the forthcoming academic year?
This is a transition year. The students who will be coming out will be older and wiser. There are three options for people coming out after the leaving certificate — university, regional technical college and a post leaving certificate course. More students are remaining in full-time education. The European Union's investment in building, matched by Exchequer investment, will give us an unprecedented number of places at third level. I believe that those who can benefit from third level education should be allowed do so. We are overseeing a building programme which includes the universities, the National College of Art, the colleges and the upgrading of equipment. The construction work has commenced in UCD and UCC. The planning of the projects is at an advanced stage for those which are likely to start this year in UL, TCD, St. Patrick's College and Dublin City University. A visit to any of these colleges is exciting because one can see the cranes in operation and the foundations being dug as the number of places is being increased. That is evident to anybody who visits those colleges.
We come to Question No. 20. As the time for dealing with Priority Questions is exhausted we will take Question No. 20 in the category of other questions.
