Seán Ryan
Ceist:31 Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Education if she intends reconsidering the five regional technical colleges proposed in the document Building on Reality prepared by a previous Government.
Written Answers. - Regional Technical Colleges Proposal.
I wish to refer the Deputy to my speech to Dáil Éireann on the 1988 Estimates in which I announced my intention to establish an inter-departmental committee to examine, inter alia, the provision of student places at third level. The Government approved the terms of reference, operation and composition of the committee in March 1988 and it has met on a number of occasions since. Pending receipt of the committee's report a number of capital projects were deferred including the proposed regional technical colleges at Tallaght, Dún Laoghaire, Blanchardstown, Thurles and Castlebar.
The Deputy will, however, be aware that my Department has approved the provision of a regional technical college for Tallaght. Commencement work on this project will commence soon and the target date for opening the college is September 1991.