asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that out of 1,000 candidates who qualified for the BA night course due to commence at UCD in October, only 600 can be accommodated; and if he proposes to take any measures to provide the facilities required by the 400 qualified students who have been rejected.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - BA Night Course.
78.
Mr. R. Burke
I have been supplied with the following information in relation to the applications received by UCD for admission to the BA course due to commence in October, 1974.
984 applications were received from academically qualified candidates. Of these candidates, 650 who had achieved 15 points or higher in the College's Leaving Certificate points system have been invited to apply for the 600 places on the course. They are required to indicate their acceptance and also to make an initial payment of £15 to the College within two weeks. It is not yet known how many of these candidates will opt for the course but any places not availed of will be offered to the next group of 234 candidates all of whom had between ten and 14 points in the Leaving Certificate system. A further 100 candidates with nine points and under were rejected for the course.
The determination of the criteria for the selection of students for the course is entirely a matter for the authorities of the University College concerned.
Would the Minister make alternative arrangements for those students who were disappointed in not being accepted by the college authorities? Would he consider approaching the Trinity College authorities with a view to providing accommodation there in view of the fact that they enjoy a substantial State grant?
Mr. R. Burke
If the Deputy has asked me if I would make alternative arrangements, since these degrees are awarded by the existing universities it is not open to me to make any arrangements. These are matters for the autonomous institutions involved.
In other words, the Minister is doing nothing about it.
Will there not be an opportunity for entrance again for the next three years?
Mr. R. Burke
I understand that is the position.
Would the Minister agree that it is regrettable that the situation which obtained in the past in which candidates obtained entrance as mature students is disappearing?
Mr. R. Burke
It is a source of regret to me but this decision was taken by the appropriate authorities and they judged the situation in the light of the resources available to them.
Would the Minister consider making a request to the university authorities to accommodate even ten mature students so that that opportunity would not disappear?
Mr. R. Burke
I will undertake to convey the Deputy's request to me in this respect to the authorities involved, and I hope that it will receive favourable consideration.