Vol. 550 No. 4
812 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress being made in respect of the additional third level courses at the Maynooth Campus at St. Kieran's College in Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8903/02]
NUI Maynooth established the Kilkenny campus in St. Kieran's College, Kilkenny, in 1997. I have agreed to fund a reachout pilot project on this campus for a five year period from 2001.
NUI Maynooth has been requested to develop a five year strategic plan for the facility at Kilkenny, which will, inter alia, examine the potential for expanding the existing range of programmes on offer. The Higher Education Authority has requested the university to submit this strategic plan by the end of March.
The pilot project, including the range of programmes offered, will be the subject of a comprehensive evaluation and the initiative will be reviewed in the light of the experience gained at the end of the five year period.
