asked the Minister for Education if he will proceed with the planning and building of the regional technical college at Thurles, County Tipperary, as sanctioned by the previous Government.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Thurles Regional Technical College.
10.
I should like to point out that any announcements made in this regard were premature in as much as the Higher Education Authority report on the future need for third level places has not yet been received in my Department. Until the report of the Authority has been received and considered it is not possible to make a decision in relation to the siting of the regional technical colleges. I may assure the Deputy, however, that when the report is received it will receive my urgent attention.
Is the Minister aware that the previous Minister sanctioned the establishment of a regional technical college in Thurles? Does he not regard it as irresponsible on his part that he should renege on a sanction given by his predecessor?
I regard it as irresponsible that my predecessor made such a decision on the day before he left office. There was no new information available to him which I can ascertain. The general desire for a college in the Thurles area had been brought to his attention and the attention of many other people interested in educational matters over the preceding months. My understanding is that no decision had been taken up to that time because the then Minister was awaiting this report.
It is not for me to inquire into the precise reasons for his decision. I can only say that, when I took office and examined the situation, I felt the correct thing for me to do was to await the report from the Higher Education Authority before taking decisions which would affect not only Thurles but also other areas. I fail to see how any sensible decision can be made about Thurles, the size of the college and the range of subjects which it should offer or other relevant matters, until we have a report which relates the potential situation in Thurles to that in other geographical areas.
Is the Minister aware that the Taoiseach gave a commitment to the establishment of a regional technical college in Thurles? Does he not recall that, at a press conference given by the Fianna Fáil Party during the election campaign, when a certain notorious project in the west was being discussed, he indicated that he regarded it as dishonourable for one Government not to honour commitments entered into by previous Ministers?
As the Chair would say, that is a separate question.
Would the Minister like to answer it?
Lest the Deputy think I am avoiding it, I should make it quite clear that I have not revoked the decision of my predecessor. Let me be quite clear on that.
That Minister is threatening to.
I have made no threat, I have given no commitment, I have made no promises. What I have said is that I will examine the matter urgently when I have the information necessary for an informed decision. May I add that of course the Deputy is aware that it is right to say that all the major political parties have expressed support for a college in the Thurles area.
Would the Minister give a commitment?
It is one thing to have this general support or commitment to a project. It is quite another thing for the Minister responsible to be able to announce the appropriate decision. I do not see how I can announce a detailed decision until I have the necessary information to deal with such obvious matters as size, range of facilities and so on.
I am calling on Deputy Kenny for a Supplementary Question.
In relation to the Minister's comments about other parts of the country might I remind him that his predecessor stated in this House that, irrespective of the Higher Education Authority Report, a regional technical college would be sited in Castlebar. Does he intend to honour that commitment?
We cannot move to Castlebar—sorry about that Deputy—we are not going to move to Castlebar or anywhere else; we are staying with the question.
Would the Minister accept that a Minister for Education has the authority to take a decision regardless of the current Minister's view about the nature of the inputs or, shall we say, how premature, to use his own words, that decision might have been? Would the Minister agree that he has the authority to take such a decision? Secondly, in that case, may I ask him whether he considers that the decision taken at that time is binding on him?
What I have been trying to convey in reply to the question is that I find it very difficult to give any substance to any such decision. How can anybody put that decision into effect? What size of school are they to build? What facilities should they provide?
The facilities would not give rise——
What I have made clear is that I have not cancelled, revoked or questioned the decision of my predecessor, if the Deputy wants to regard it as a decision in principle. What I have said is that I am not in a position to take any informed decision——
On what?
——as to the size, content, number, location of colleges needed.
But the Minister is not going to stop it going ahead?
We cannot have this cross-chat. I am calling on Deputy E. Collins for a final supplementary on this question.
The Deputy is well aware that no activity of any relevant nature has been held up over the period required to receive this report, or rather if the Deputy is aware of any such delay I should be delighted if he would draw it to my attention.
Deputy E. Collins for a final supplementary.
I fail to understand the vagueness and hesitancy of the Minister. Is he not aware that the information he deems not to have in hand about the need for a regional technical college in Thurles is readily available to him both from the Higher Education Authority and the National Council for Educational Awards, so that he is merely hiding behind some argument that does not exist? The information is readily available——
He is trying to save money.
Would the Minister not agree also that this information was available to his predecessor who said that a regional technical college would be established in Thurles and that there has been no information forthcoming since that would justify him hesitating further in the matter?
I am not aware that any such information is available to me. I want to point out to the Deputy that, on my information, the relevant information is to be given in a report to be furnished to me some time in the very near future through the Higher Education Authority. If all that information were readily available why was it at the eleventh hour only, so to speak, that my predecessor took a decision, which someone has referred to as a decision in principle, but was not in a position to give any detailed information about the size, facilities or other characteristics of this college.
Question No. 11.
A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, one final——
I have called Question No. 11. Will the Deputy please resume his seat? I have allowed seven supplementary questions on a question tabled by a Deputy who is not present. I have called Question No. 11 and the Minister will please answer it.