Seán Crowe
Question:143 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason the consultancy report conducted on the future of a college (detail supplied) was suppressed. [26141/04]
View answerWednesday, 27 October 2004
Questions (42)
Written answers
At the outset, I would like to emphasise that there is no question of suppressing the consultancy report conducted on the future of the college in question.
The Deputy will be aware that the issue of the future of the college, which is the subject of the question posed by the Deputy, arose in the context of a decision by the trustees of the college that, due to personnel and financial considerations, they were no longer in a position to fulfil the role of trustees of the college.
Following discussions between the trustees and my Department, it was agreed that a consultant, a former senior official of the Department, would be appointed who would meet with relevant parties and prepare a report on the options for the college's future.
The consultants' report, which was completed in July of 2002, was thoroughly examined in my Department and the options for the future of the college were set out for my consideration by my predecessor, Deputy Noel Dempsey. Having carefully considered all of these options and having taken into account other factors such as the national spatial strategy, relevant costs in a time of financial constraint, a Government decision to restrict public service numbers, the need to secure value for money and a better allocation of resources, the then Minister, Deputy Dempsey, decided that these considerations would be best served by the closure of the college and the designation of St. Angela's College, Sligo as the sole centre for the training of home economics teachers.
The consultants' report and any related advice were only two factors considered by the then Minister, Deputy Dempsey, when making his decision on the future of the college and the future of its subject area.
The Deputy will be aware that the report and all papers relating to this case are now in the public domain.