asked the Minister for Education which body is to award degrees to final-year students of hotel management at the Galway Regional Technical College.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hotel Management Awards.
6.
The only bodies now empowered to award degrees are the universities.
Can the Minister say whether or not this course was submitted to the NCEA for approval as a degree course?
Yes.
Could the Minister say when it was submitted and the date of approval of same?
July, 1975, before the new NCEA was constituted.
Could the Minister further tell the House whether there was any communication since then between the NCEA and the Regional College in Galway regarding this degree course?
That information should be elicited from the NCEA.
Is it true that as a result of my question there has been communication, and that now the NCEA have at last had tentative talks with the Regional Technical College authorities in Galway to say that they may not now be able to award a degree?
I am not aware that the facts are as the Deputy states.
Does the Minister not know?
I am not aware that the facts are precisely as the Deputy states.
Is the Minister concerned?
I am.
Was he concerned about Limerick?
Can the Minister indicate who is setting the examination papers for the final examination in question?
This is a specific question but if the Deputy tables a separate question seeking the information, I shall answer it.
The question is pertinent to what the Minister is endeavouring to answer. If there is to be no examination there cannot be the awarding of any degree. Therefore, is it not relevant to ask the Minister whether he can assure the House that the examination in question will take place irrespective of whether the NCEA or the universities will award a degree?
That is a separate question.
Can the Minister say whether the university in question have agreed to award this degree?
That, too, is a specific question and one which should be addressed to the body in question.
Mr. Kitt
The Minister has told us that the university will award a degree in respect of this course but could a student who had completed the course get an honours degree?
That is another specific question but if the Deputy askes for the information by way of a separate question I shall endeavour to elicit it for him.