Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 1

Written Answers. - Institutes of Technology.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

137 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has formally requested the governing body of Waterford Institute of Technology to direct the members of the Waterford Institute of Technology development committee to furnish the student representative of Waterford Institute of Technology with written answers to the questions it has raised throughout the past year regarding the development committee; if he has not already made such a formal request, if he will give an assurance that he intends to do so; and if so, when. [23510/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

Waterford Institute of Technology is a statutory body established under the Regional Technical Colleges Acts, 1992-1999. The governance and management of the day to day activities of the institute are matters for which the governing body and management of the institute are responsible.

Given the statutory role and functions of the governing body and management, it would be inappropriate for me to intervene in the management of the institute. However, in response to representations from student representatives regarding the WIT development committee, my Department has written to the institute on the matter. A response has not yet been received from the institute.