Vol. 475 No. 4
207 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, she has for partnership links between Monaghan Institute for Further Education and Training (MIFET), County Monaghan and a third level institution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4971/97]
I have asked the Higher Education Authority to undertake a general review of outreach centres of higher education institutions and to report and make recommendations thereon. The authority has determined its own working procedures for the review and has appointed a technical working group. It has consulted and sought submissions from interested groups and I understand that it has received a submission from the chief executive officer, County Monaghan Vocational Education Committee on behalf of the vocational education committee and Monaghan Institute of Further Education and Training (MIFET).
Pending the outcome of the Higher Education Authority review and consideration of its recommendations, no decision will be taken on the question of establishing new outreach centres.
I understand that Dundalk Regional Technical College welcomes articulation with PLC courses and has students on full-time courses who have entered from MIFET through this mechanism.
