asked the Minister for Education when he will sanction a marine radio officers' course for Letterkenny regional technical college, County Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Radio Officers' Course.
10.
The establishment of a marine radio officers' course in Letterkenny regional technical college would not be in conformity with the agreed policy under which nautical education and training has been centralised and the necessary facilities provided in the regional technical college, Cork.
Would the Minister not agree that the regional technical colleges were originally established to cater for regions? Would he not also agree that Donegal is a special case in that it has flourishing fishing ports and a marine radio station in Malin Head, and that anybody who wants to pursue this course is a very far distance from the only place where it is being provided, namely, Cork city?
There are two aspects of this. First of all, in relation to the regional aspect, the Deputy will be aware that the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries have purchased, or intend to purchase, considerable amounts of sonar, radar and electronic equipment for their installations at Greencastle. Admittedly, that is some 40 miles or so away from Letterkenny regional technical college, but the region in that sense may be catered for in that way. On the more general question, the Deputy will realise that this matter was put before a survey team on nautical education in the 1960s——
How many Donegal men were on the team?
——dealing with the question of nautical education generally. I give some extracts from that report, and I quote from subparagraph (3) of the summary of recommendations on page 1 of the report:
that a national nautical education centre should be established as part of a major technical institution providing the many auxiliary teaching services required by such a centre. The Regional Technical College to be constructed in Cork is regarded as the most suitable location.
Again, on page 3, section 4, it says:
In the team's view there is a clear case on overall educational grounds for the establishment of a single institution for nautical education in which, for reasons already indicated, the marine radio and electronics courses should be provided as well as those for deck and engineering trainees. There are sound economic reasons for such a development also.
I further quote from page 4, section 5, of the report:
To obtain the services of the best teachers in these subjects (mathematics, science, economics and business studies, work study and personnel management) and to employ them economically requires in the present Irish circumstances that nautical educational courses be associated with major technical institutions where both staff and equipment capable of handling courses at the highest levels required can be provided.
Since we had this out before in questions in the Dáil, installations in the Dublin area were withdrawn and put in Cork consequent on the report, and it would seem to be unwarranted now to put the equipment in Donegal having deprived Dún Laoghaire of the facilities.
Would the Minister not agree that at present on the staff of the regional technical college in Letterkenny there are three fully qualified teachers in this field? Would he not further agree that the total equipment cost to provide this course up to internationally recognised level would be about £10,000, and that, seeing that there is so much unemployment among young people at the moment, it is disheartening to know that the companies who employ these officers say they would take twice the number that qualify each year in the Irish schools?
I accept what the Deputy says about the personnel involved, but I would reiterate that what has been done over the last few years by the Department of Education is consequent on and is based on the survey which was initiated by the previous Administration. I agree with the general thrust of that survey, and I intend to carry out its provisions.
I want to raise the subject matter of this question on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.