Vol. 317 No. 9
asked the Minister for Education if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of teaching staff and the lack of facilities which are penalising students at the Donogh O'Malley Regional Technical College in Letterkenny, County Donegal, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
81.
asked the Minister for Education if he has received representations from the Students Union in the Letterkenny Regional Technical College, County Donegal, concerning high fees, inadequate grants, unfair means test, lack of general facilities, shortage of teaching staff and spiralling canteen prices, and if he will make a comprehensive statement on the matter.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 81 together.
There is no record of the receipt of representations as referred to from the Students Union in the Regional Technical College, Letterkenny.
I am satisfied that there are no valid grounds for complaint in relation to the level of fees, grants, teaching staff or general facilities in the case of this college.
The adjustment in the fees charged in the regional technical colleges as from the commencement of the academic year 1979-80 must be seen in the context that, in general, the fees were at an unrealistically low level, having regard to the level of the educational service being provided. At the same time the level of the higher education grants and of the scholarships awarded by the vocational education committees, and the conditions of eligibility in relation to means, were improved dramatically. An illustration of this improvement was the increase from £500 to £600, and corresponding increases in other award levels, and raising the eligibility limit from £5,100 to £6,100.
The allocation of teachers for 1979-80 is fully adequate to requirements.
Building work on an extension to the college premises commenced in November 1979 and the extension is scheduled for occupation in 1980.
