Vol. 393 No. 1
asked the Minister for Education the composition of the committee established in 1989 to examine courses in vocational education committee colleges; its terms of reference; its date of appointment; the number of meetings held to date; and the likely date of its final report.
335.
asked the Minister for Education the composition of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Third Level Education established in 1988 to take a broad look at third level education; the date of appointment of the committee; if it has yet presented its report; and, if not, when she expects it will do so.
352.
asked the Minister for Education the terms of reference, date of appointment, composition and likely reporting date of the two committees on third level education appointed by her; and if she will list the capital projects in third level education which have been deferred pending the conclusion of the deliberation of these two committees.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 334, 335 and 352 together.
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to these committees is set out in appendices A, B and C.
APPENDIX A
Committee to Examine Courses in Vocational Education Committee Colleges
1. Composition
|
Department of Education |
4 Including the Chairperson) |
|
National Council for Education Awards |
1 |
|
College of Technology, Bolton Street |
1 |
|
Department of Finance |
1 |
2. Terms of Reference
(a) To identify the main kinds of occupations secured by and available to award holders.
(b) To examine the objectives, duration and nature of courses leading to the awards.
(c) To ascertain the views of employers and other interested parties on the extent to which the nature and objectives of the courses in question match their requirements.
(d) To assess as far as it is possible whether the level, nature and organisation of the courses are appropriate to the requirements of the occupations concerned.
(e) To recommend the optimal length and organisation of college based courses required to acquire the necessary skills.
(f) To examine the distribution of courses by institutions in terms of cost effectiveness of provision.
(g) To indicate the savings that could be made, and/or the additional student numbers that could be accommodated at no extra cost, by adjusting where appropriate (i) the length and organisation of courses and (ii) their distribution between institutions.
3. The inaugural meeting of the committee was held on 25 February, 1988.
4. Fourteen meetings have been held to date.
5. The committee's draft report has just been circulated to interested parties for any comments they may have before the report is finalised.
APPENDIX B
Inter-Departmental Committee on Third Level Education
|
1. Composition |
Number of Representatives |
|
Department of Education |
3 (Including the Chairman) |
|
Department of Industry and Commerce |
1 |
|
Department of Labour |
1 |
|
Department of Agriculture and Food |
1 |
|
Department of Health |
1 |
|
Department of Finance |
1 |
|
Higher Education Authority |
1 |
2. Terms of Reference
To set out the principles which the committee recommend should guide future policy in relation to third level education. In the light of these principles to:
(a) identify policies to reduce third level costs by rationalisation and otherwise;
(b) recommend the desirable level of third level education provision up to the year 2000 and, to the extent possible, to 2010, with due regard to current and foreseeable demographic and labour force trends and labour market and manpower requirements;
(c) recommend the manner in which decisions should be taken about the desirable level of provision in particular disciplines or faculties, within the overall total at (b);
(d) indicate, in the event of a recommendation to increase the present overall number of places available, which of the possible alternative ways of providing these places should be adopted; and
(e) make recommendations about how third level education and research should be funded.
3. The committee was established in April 1988.
4. Twenty-one meetings have been held to date.
5. The committee is expected to present its report in the near future.
APPENDIX C
List of Third Level Capital Projects deferred pending the review of an Inter-Departmental Committee.
Bishop St. College of Commerce, Marketing and Design
Dún Laoghaire RTC
Blanchardstown RTC
Thurles RTC
Castlebar RTC
DCU (NIHE Dublin) Phase II
NCAD Phase III
TCD Clinical Sciences Complex (Dental Hospital and Shared Facilities).
