asked the Minister for Education if research facilities in the regional colleges throughout the country will be made available for entrepreneurs doing research on the development of product ideas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Regional Colleges Research Facilities.
18.
Arrangements already exist under the terms of Circular Letter 60/71 for limited research and consultancy work in the regional technical colleges and colleges of technology. A submission made to my Department by the Association of Vocational Education Colleges in regard to the question of expanding the scope for research and consultancy work in these colleges is at present under consideration in my Department.
The Minister said that there are limited facilities for research in the RTCs at present as per the circular which she mentioned. Would she agree that to provide for further research facilities as per the AVEC submission presently being considered by AVEC would mean that the Vocational Education Act 1930 would have to be amended accordingly if increased research facilities were to be granted? Would the Minister be in favour of the granting of increased research facilities to encourage business people and entrepreneurs to continue their important work?
I agree with Deputy O'Rourke that entrepreneurship and research in these areas should be encouraged. She will be aware that considerable work has been done by the NBST in association with the universities and the NIHEs. It is not a matter of providing such facilities — because they already exist and are being encouraged in the institutions to which I have referred — but rather of considering what contribution the RTCs can make in this area. This is the subject of the IVEA submission to which I referred. I am expecting proposals from my Department on their submission in a very short time.
Would the implementation of such proposals envisage an amendment of the 1930 Vocational Education Act?
That is a matter on which I am awaiting advice from my Department.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.