Finian McGrath
Question:596 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if the maximum support will be given to the National College of Ireland in 2009. [4343/09]
View answerTuesday, 10 February 2009
Questions (538, 539, 540)
Finian McGrath
Question:597 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will end the cap on student recruitment at the National College of Ireland in view of the fact that it is the only college here with a cap. [4344/09]
View answerFinian McGrath
Question:598 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will use the National College of Ireland in tackling the problem of unemployment and vulnerable low skilled workers. [4346/09]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 596 to 598, inclusive, together.
An amount of €6.8 million which includes the estimated cost of free tuition fees has been provided in the 2009 estimates for the National College of Ireland (NCI). This provision is in line with the 2008 outturn when the expected additional income to the NCI from the increase in the third level student services charge is taken into account. This allocation must also be viewed in the context of overall increases to NCI in recent years where the current allocation represents a doubling of the provision allocated to the College in 2001 (€3.36m) and an increase of some 27% over the funding provided in 2004 (€5.669m).
The Government has taken decisions to control public expenditure in light of the current economic climate and as the Deputy will appreciate it will be necessary for NCI to achieve appropriate savings in line with the requirement for all other third level institutions to do likewise.
The Deputy may be aware that the cap on student numbers relates to funding under my Departments Free Fees Initiative for up to 925 students in the NCI. The College cannot expand on this limit without the approval of my Department and the Department of Finance. The NCI are free to increase the number of student places that they offer outside the free fees scheme.
Specific requests have been received from NCI to lift this cap on numbers of free fee places so as to increase places in IT and business and financial related courses. My Department has examined the College's request for an increase in places on IT related courses, however the view is that there is no need for additional IT related courses at this time due to general demand being less than places available.
The Deputy may be aware that the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs published a report on the Future Skills and Research Needs of the International Financial Services Industry. The responsibility for managing the implementation of a number of recommendations in this report has been assigned to Skillnets, which is the enterprise-led support body whose mission is to enhance the skills of people in employment in Irish industry.
In relation to the issue of using NCI to tackle unemployment and low skilled workers, proposals to activate greater numbers of unemployed people, through education, training, employment and community programmes are currently being examined, having regard to existing resources, by Government.