Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Oct 1991

Vol. 411 No. 7

Written Answers. - Tallaght (Dublin) RTC.

Mervyn Taylor

Ceist:

44 Mr. Taylor asked the Minister for Education if she will make a statement regarding the present state of development of the regional technical college for Tallaght, Dublin 24 outlining (1) its proposed structure, (2) the arrangements which will be made for representation on its board, (3) the number of intended students and (4) the range of intended subjects to be available.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

180 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education when the necessary steps will be taken to enable a board with sole and specific responsibility for the Tallaght RTC to be formed.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

Phase I of Tallaght Regional Technical College is due for completion in early 1992. The initial enrolment of over 400 full time day students will take place in September 1992. The capacity of the college on completion of phase I will be 1,500 whole time equivalent students including 1,000 full time day students. The capacity will be increased to 2,000 whole-time equivalent students on completion of phase II.

The structure of the college will be similar to that in the other regional technical colleges. The principal took up duty on 1 September 1991. Heads of schools of engineering, science and business studies have also been appointed and heads of department posts have been advertised recently.

The following courses have been submitted to the National Council for Educational Awards and have been provisionally included in the central applications system list for the 1992-93 academic year: National Certificate in Business Studies (Options in Marketing, Languages and Finance); National Certificate in Computing; National Certificate in Science (Options in Applied Biology, Applied Chemistry); National Certificate in Engineering (Electronics) and National Certificate in Engineering (Mechanical) (Options in Production Systems, Control Systems).

With regard to representation on the board the Deputy will be aware that I have introduced in the House a Bill to provide for the organisation and development of the regional technical colleges. This Bill includes provision for governing bodies for the colleges. These provisions will of course, apply to the Tallaght college also. Pending enactment of the legislation County Dublin Vocational Education Committee are directly discharging the relevant functions in relation to the college.