Vol. 407 No. 1
300 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Education whether the special initiatives referred to in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress will include the provision of a regional technical college at Blanchardstown, County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The special initiatives mentioned by the Deputy which will provide extra student places are (i) the provision of 3,600 places in universities under arrangements initiated by the Government in the 1990 budget; (ii) the provision of funding to UCD for the acquisition of Carysfort College (600 + places at Belfield); (iii) the utilisation of spare capacity in the colleges of education (including Thomond College) involving linkages within the university system (1,500 places); (iv) the provision of a new regional technical college in Tallaght, County Dublin, and other third level facilities under the National Development Plan (2,000 places); and (v) the possibility of a further 1,000 places being provided with private sector financial participation is being explored by one of the universities.
In all 8,800 additional third level places are being provided in these developments.
The Deputy will note from the above the additional places being permitted in Dublin.
