asked the Minister for Education if he will give assurance that colleges and institutes who are running specialised conversion courses in areas of skilled manpower shortage will receive the State funds necessary to enable them to continue such courses in 1980-1981, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Skilled Manpower Courses.
42.
As I indicated in the course of my statement to Dáil Éireann on 2 Bealtaine 1980 introducing the Estimates for my Department, a sum of £1,800,000 has been provided in this year's allocation to the Higher Education Authority to meet the cost of conversion and other courses initiated last year on the recommendation of the National Manpower Consultative Committee.
In the case of the Regional Technical Colleges and the Technological Colleges adequate provision has also been made in Vote 32—Vocational Education—for expenditure in 1980 on courses recommended by the National Manpower Consultative Committee and approved by me.