Vol. 498 No. 1
361 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of proposals he has brought to Government during 1998 relating to the capital funding and revenue funding of the institutes of technology; the details of each proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26446/98]
A Government decision was made in relation to the 1999 Abridged Estimates for the institutes of technology in the normal way and a Government decision was also made in relation to increasing the contribution in 1998 to the Scientific and Technological Education (Investment) Fund.
The proposed Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown, was approved by Government on 8 July 1998. The project involves the acquisition of a site and planning for the provision of around 900 additional third level student places and some 200 apprentice places at an estimated cost in excess of £20 million. I took the decision to bring the case to Government for a new institution of technology at Blanchardstown in the light of the skills requirements of high technology firms in the area and to serve the north, north-west and north-east Dublin region, as well as the growth areas in Meath and Kildare.
The Deputy will appreciate that individual projects are only occasionally brought to Government.
