Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Feb 1998

Vol. 487 No. 3

Written Answers. - National Certificate in Technology.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

290 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science, further to Parliamentary Question No. 847 of 28 January 1998, if he will provide the names of colleges providing the national certificate in technology programme, which was developed by a joint industry education task force in response to the shortage of technicians for high-technology industries and to which a number of special features apply involving free tuition for all trainees; the number of trainees in each college; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3771/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

Following are the institutes delivering the new national certificate in technology together with the numbers enrolled:

Institute	Enrolment
Athlone Institute of Technology	21
Institute of Technology, Carlow	41
Cork Institute of Technology	35
Dundalk Institute of Technology	40
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology	48
Letterkenny Institute of Technology	15
Limerick Institute of Technology	39
Institute of Technology, Tralee	18
Waterford Institute of Technology	35
Total	292

I strongly support this innovative course which arose from the work of the joint industry-education task force which I established in July 1997 to improve the supply of technicians for high technology industries.