Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Nov 1998

Vol. 496 No. 6

Written Answers - Institutes of Technology.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

434 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has if the recommendations of the interim review group for Waterford Institute of Technology fail to meet the short to medium term third level educational needs of degrees in particular of the south east region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23682/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

The report of the Steering Committee on the Future Development of Higher Education recommended an increase in student places in what was then the Regional Technical College, Waterford, an increase in degree level awards and a change of title to regional institute of technology as a response to the higher education needs in the south-east region.

Since the report of the steering committee was published, the number of full-time students in the institute has increased from the 1994-5 level of 3,500 to 4,740 in 1997-8.

An increase in degree-level provision has been sanctioned by my Department in respect of Waterford Institute of Technology in the context of meeting the identified higher education needs of the south-east region. Figures provided by the institute indicate that the number of students on degree courses has increased from an estimated 1,046 in 1994-5 to 1,825 in 1997-8, and that the intake of students to degree programmesab initio, has increased from 285 to 560 in the same period. In addition, the following new degree-level courses have been sanctioned since 1995: B.A. in Applied Social Studies; B.Sc. in Applied Biology; B.A. in Legal and Business Studies; B.A. in Applied Languages; B.Sc. in Commercial Software Development; B.A. in Financial Services; B.A. in General and Corporate Administration; B.A. in Accounting; B.Sc. in Manufacturing Systems Engineering; B.Ed. in Electronic Engineering.

The institue has submitted a framework for its development to my Department and this proposal is the subject of ongoing discussions with officials.

Early in 1997, the institute was designed as the Waterford Institute of Technology and arrangements have been put in place to carry through the process leading to the delegation to the institute of authority to make awards within a national qualifications framework. The process is being carried out by an interim review group chaired by Professor Dervilla Donnelley. I understand that the interim review group has completed a draft report on the self-evaluation study by Waterford Institue of Technology and has furnished the institute with its observations on the study and its draft recommendations. At present, the group is considering the response from Waterford Institute of Technology to these observations and draft recommdendation prior to finalising its report which will then be submitted to me.