Mary Flaherty
Question:15 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Education the current position in relation to proposals to erect a regional technical college in the Dublin north-west region. [11867/96]
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Regional Technical College Proposal.
The Steering Committee on the Future Development of Higher Education was asked to examine "within the overall national context... the needs for higher education on a regional basis..." One of the specific areas examined was north, north west and the north east Dublin region where the steering committee recommended Blanchardstown as the appropriate location for the establishment of a new regional technical college for the area.
In response to the recommendations in the report 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. This initiative represents the first stage in the implementation of the steering committee's report.
In addition, I have begun consultations with the governing bodies of the regional technical colleges regarding the change of title for these colleges as recommended in the report.
I am giving further consideration to the steering committee's recommendations, including those relating to the Dublin region, with my colleagues in Government over the next few months.
I am glad the Minister acknowledged the recommendation, but there is little else about which to be encouraged in the response to date. While Dublin north west benefits from the expansion of DCU, the recent review of participation rates at third level indicates that rates in that area are particularly low. This affects large numbers of young people in Finglas and Ballymun. Vast areas in Dublin west are badly in need of such a facility. Will the Minister indicate when the planning stages of such a project will commence? I hope it is not necessary to appoint a Minister in the area to get a third level institution there. If that is the case, I will volunteer. Will a sod be turned for this development before the next election?
I received recommendations from the Higher Education Authority which I asked to report on the future development of third level education. The steering committee was chaired by Noel Lindsay, the chairperson of the Higher Education Authority, and represented all the social partners. It was served by a technical working group chaired by Dr. Gerry Sexton——
We know that.
Will the Minister answer the question?
——which recommended Finglas as an appropriate site. However, when the technical working group presented its work to the steering committee it considered that Blanchardstown, while less well placed than Finglas in terms of adequacy to deprived city areas, had the advantage of location within the major areas of population growth and favoured a site in that area. A site will be reserved in Blanchardstown until 1997 when a decision must be taken on whether it will be used for the development of an educational facility or revert to the contractor of the main town centre in Blanchardstown. While it may be timely to take the steering committee's recommendations to Government, they involve large investment and the current capital programme which requires an annual investment of £55 million to the year 2000 does not include the bricks and mortar for a third level college.
The Deputy will be aware of the level of activity on third level institutions at Trinity College, DCU, Tallaght, Cathal Brugha Street and the Aungier Street site. Investment proposed for third level institutions in the national plan is now being spent. The Higher Education Authority is considering another phase for the development of third level institutions, under which Blanchardstown will be included. I will bring to Government the recommendations of the Steering Committee on the Future Development of Higher Education.
I am sure my colleague, Deputy Ahern, is anxious to intervene to support the case for the area. While I appreciate there has been substantial investment in the university sector and the DCU is benefiting, a significant number of students would move more easily from second to third level education via the regional technical colleges. I am sure the Minister is aware that, despite the excellent work done by post-leaving certificate colleges in my area, the participation rate study indicates that students from that area have to travel to Dundalk, Athlone and further afield to attend regional technical colleges. Participation rates in the area are well below the national average. Given the Minister's commitment to social disadvantage, she should direct her efforts to finding the resources to bring forward this project so that the college will be built before the turn of the century.
I welcome the Deputy's support. There has been great investment in the Dublin Institute of Technology sector, as is evident from the skyline of Dublin at present. There is ongoing investment in the Tallaght regional technical college and work is beginning on the Dún Laoghaire regional technical college. While there is projected growth in student numbers, there are hefty resource implications for accepting the recommendations, which I will discuss with my Government colleagues.
Since the time has expired and there are two Deputies offering, whom I wish to facilitate, I suggest that both Deputies put their questions and perhaps the Minister will answer them together.
I find it extraordinary that the Minister is not giving this project the degree of priority recommended by the Higher Education Authority. From the steering committee's report on the provision of third level education in the Dublin region it is clear that the north-west is the area of greatest need and has the greatest degree of disadvantage in terms of participation in third level education. I am surprised the Minister has made no decision in principle to go ahead with this project. She has put Dún Laoghaire, Tralee and other areas ahead of this. I suggest that political considerations are more important in terms of disadvantage in third level education in Dublin.
I share Deputy Martin's views. Will the Minister list the first six locations as recommended by the steering committee? Has area number one, the north-west area, received funding, or have other areas which are of a lesser priority, including the Minister's constituency, been given the go ahead?
Decisions on Dún Laoghaire and Thurles were taken prior to the request by me to the Higher Education Authority to bring forward a steering committee report. I do not have a copy of the report but I will make it available to the Deputies. Recommendations were made in that report on third level places and we have been able to respond with partnership investment in securing 200 places. Other recommendations made relate to change of title; plans for projected growth — student numbers are given and capital resources — recurrent funds are sought; a balance between degrees and sub-degrees; provision for the Dublin region through the establishment of a college in Blanchardstown; negotiation and special links with the Dublin Institute of Technology, DCU and TCU; strengthening links with PLC programmes; expanding Tallaght college to accommodate 3,000 students; expanding Waterford college and improving equality measures. There is a long list of recommendations, but I would prefer not to be associated with taking decisions in principle when I do not have the necessary resources to deliver on promises made in the past. There are resource implications to accepting the recommendations, which I will bring to Government.