Written Answers. - Institutes of Technology.
Brian O'Shea
Question:
234
Mr. O'Shea
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the authorised outreach centres of each institute of technology; the outreach centres he has authorised since coming into office; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10788/02]
The Institute of Technology, Carlow established outreach centres at St. Peter's College, Wexford and Seville Lodge, Kilkenny in 1995. The institute has been operating these outreach centres on the basis of sanction obtained annually from my Department. In the current academic year there has been no intake to courses at Seville Lodge.
In seeking to make provision for off-campus education, institutes of technology have adopted various approaches. The following are examples. Athlone Institute of Technology has established links with Cavan College of Further Education and with Greendale Community School, Kilbarrack, Dublin, which involve students attending the first year of a national certificate course in Greendale or Cavan and transferring to the second year of the course in Athlone Institute of Technology. Waterford Institute of Technology works in partnership with local educational organisations including vocational education committees, Teagasc, FÁS, health boards, Irish Farmers Association, diocesan youth services, county enterprise boards and the National Literacy Agency in response to meeting identified local needs. GMIT, Waterford Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown and Cork Institute of Technology have established linkages with agricultural colleges at Mountbellew, Kildalton, Warrenstown and Clonakilty involving co-operation in the delivery of certain courses. GMIT is also involved in a joint initiative with Connemara West in relation to the operation of the furniture college in Letterfrack which focuses on education programmes in applied furniture design, restoration and manufacturing skills. Other institutes, including Institute of Technology Tallaght, Cork Institute of Technology, Waterford Institute of Technology and Limerick Institute of Technology, have adopted a strategy involving the teaching of national certificate and diploma programmes in engineering, electronics and computing on an in-company basis.
In August 2000, I announced my plans to strengthen the education base in regions which are not well served at present and to establish effective links with higher and further education institutions. Following on this announcement, the Ferns diocesan authorities offered St. Peter's College as a location to facilitate the development of an outreach centre with higher and further education links. In accordance with my plans the proposed centre will have a local management body and a dedicated budget. A head of centre has been appointed locally to develop and implement a strategic plan for the provision of an educational programme to meet the needs of the people of Wexford and the surrounding area. While it is envisaged that the proposed new centre will establish links with a range of course providers, it is necessary to have an established third level institution which will act as lead institution for legal, accounting and academic purposes. The Institute of Technology, Carlow has agreed to act as the lead institution in respect of the proposed Reachout Centre in Wexford.
