Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Feb 1997

Vol. 475 No. 4

Written Answers. - Degree Awarding Status.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

226 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education if she intends to present an order granting degree awarding status under section 5 (2) (a) of the Dublin Institute of Technology Act, 1992, before 1 April 1997, to enable the Dublin Institute of Technology to publish the necessary documentation indicating that it will make its own awards from 1998 onwards in view of her announcement of 12 December 1996; and whether, in view of her refusal to include the Dublin Institute of Technology within the Universities Bill 1996, she intends to amend the existing Dublin Institute of Technology Act to grant the institute autonomy comparable with that in the university sector. [5184/97]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

As indicated in my statement of 12 December last, I intend to make an order to confer degree awarding powers on the Dublin Institute of Technology from the 1998-99 academic year as recommended by the report of the international review team. I hope to be in a position to make such an order within the near future.

I have also indicated that section 9 of the Universities Bill, now before the Dáil, provides a mechanism by which an institution can attain university status. If, in the future, moving to university status enhances the mission of the institute, I am confident that section 9 of the Universities Bill provides an appropriate mechanism.