The college referred to by the Deputy is a privately owned institution and is funded by my Department. My Department does not have any strategy, nor is it aware of any strategy in place, to downgrade the college to facilitate a takeover by Trinity College Dublin. If there were such a strategy in place I would be concerned, and I would invite the Deputy to submit to my officials any information that he has to suggest that such a strategy is in place.
I understand that the Christian Brother trustees of the college referred to by the Deputy have announced that, following earlier approaches by them to Trinity College Dublin, they have agreed in principle to form a co-trusteeship for the college.