Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 3

Written Answers. - Archaeological Diploma.

John Perry

Question:

295 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in 1999 the Department of Archaeology in NUI Galway developed and facilitated for the first time, a diploma in archaeology in association with St. Angela's College, Sligo; his views on whether the course was successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3939/01]

John Perry

Question:

296 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will ensure that an outreach degree course in archaeology based in St. Angela's College, Sligo, in association with NUI Galway will be put in place for September 2001; the steps he has taken to put the degree course in place; the consultations he has had; if he will report on the meetings that have taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3940/01]

John Perry

Question:

297 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on whether there are excellent facilities, in St. Angela's College, Sligo, which are crucial for the effective delivery of an outreach degree course in archaeology programme in terms of lectures-tutors, access to lecture theatres library and video conference, administration and IT support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3941/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 295, 296 and 297 together.

Under the Universities Act, 1997, decisions regarding the provision of particular courses is a matter for the university itself. I have no function in the matter, nor have I received any request for a meeting on the issue. My officials have raised this matter with the Higher Education Authority and the position is that the National University of Ireland, Galway, has made notable advances over recent years in expanding its long-standing provision of university programmes for adult learners in the northwest, especially in the Sligo area. For example, two cycles of a part-time, evening B.A. degree programme have been provided, as well as diploma courses in community development and in the psychology of counselling and a range of certificate programmes in other subjects. I also understand that the university was prepared to offer a third cycle of the evening B.A. programme in Sligo, commencing in September 2000 but that the number of applicants proved insufficient. These courses have been located in St. Angela's College Sligo, which likewise has endeavoured to be fully responsive to community interests in the Sligo area. These courses could not have been provided by the university without the co-operation of the college in making available its facilities, augmented recently by a video-conferencing link supplied by the university. The most recent such diploma course offered in Sligo is the diploma in archaeology, a newly developed, two-year, part-time programme for adults, which has attracted adult students in both Sligo and Galway and has proved very successful. The university has confirmed that, in association with St. Angela's College, it will continue to monitor and investigate the demand which exists for the provision of degree programmes in a range of areas, including archaeology, and will endeavour to respond to demand in the light of available resources.