Vol. 478 No. 1
121 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education whether the outreach centre of Cork Regional Technical College to be located in Skibbereen is similar to the telecommunication community resource centre as developed by the University of Missouri at Poplar Bluff; if she will consider similar centres at other locations in west Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10411/97]
122 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education the progress, if any, on the telecommunications element of the Protocol of Negotiations, signed by the Taoiseach and the University of Missouri in Dublin in June 1995; and the decisions, if any, which have been taken to develop the telecommunications co-operative project. [10412/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 122 together.
The University of Missouri's work with the Cork project has been three-pronged. Their idea inspired the telematic aspect of the initiative in the first place. Second, they actively advised the local group in the preparation of the project. Third, they have committed the University of Missouri, in a visit to Skibbereen last July, to provide courses on a reciprocal basis to Skibbereen when the pilot project is up and running.
The proposed centre for Skibbereen will test the use of telematics for the local delivery of courses in a variety of areas at the post-secondary level, i.e., further education, Post Leaving Certificate courses, higher education and continuing adult education.
It is a pilot project and, therefore, the establishment of such a centre in another location does not arise at this time.
