asked the Minister for Education, in respect of the planned regional technical college for Tallaght, Dublin 24, (a) the present stage of the building process of this project (b) the expected date of the completion and opening (c) the range of courses which are planned for the college and (d) the expected number of (i) teaching and (ii) other jobs which will be provided in the college.
Written Answers. - Tallaght (Dublin) Regional Technical College.
368.
The present position in relation to Tallaght Regional Technical College is as follows:
(a) a site has been purchased for the proposed college in Tallaght and a design team appointed. Tenders have recently been invited for the project and are due to be returned shortly. Following evaluation of the tenders by the design team and the Department of Education's Building Unit a contractor and sub-contractors will be selected and a contract signed.
(b) Arrangements are proceeding on the basis of construction commencing before the end of December this year and that the college should be ready to open at the beginning of the 1991 academic year.
(c) The college will provide a range of full-time courses in engineering, science and business studies including languages. Further part-time and apprenticeship courses will also be provided.
(d) (i) It is estimated that when the college becomes fully operational it will employ in excess of 100 equivalent whole-time academic staff.
(ii) It is not possible at this point to give a precise estimate of the expected number of other jobs which will be created in the college. Factors such as the academic structure of the college and the precise mixture of practical and other courses will be relevant in this context.