Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:68 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education his views on whether there should be an increase in the number of places available in third level education; and if he will outline the way he hopes to achieve this objective.
Written Answers. - Third Level Education Places.
I naturally intend to follow through on the Government's commitment to provide about 9,000 extra third level places over the next few years. In fact, considerable progress has been made already towards meeting this target.
The arrangement initiated by the Government with the universities under its 1990 budget whereby the universities will provide not less than an extra 3,600 undergraduate places over a three to four year period is currently running above the annual target of 1,200 additional places.
The acquisition of Carysfort College by UCD will allow the UCD authorities to provide an extra 600 plus undergraduate places at their Belfield campus. About 200 of these extra students were enrolled this year.
A programme for the utilisation of spare capacity in the colleges of education is well under way. The amalgamation of Thomond College with the University of Limerick will provide an extra 600 places and the recently agreed institutional linkages between that university and Mary Immaculate college will provide a further 600 undergraduate places, as postgraduate places.
In this context too, discussions are ongoing between the authorities of Dublin City University and St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra regarding similar institutional linkages between their two institutions, and I look forward to a fruitful outcome.
The provision of the new regional technical college in Tallaght supported by EC Structural Funds, will provide 1,200 places and a new building to be provided at the University of Limerick with private sector financial participation will provide a further 1,000 places.
Additional places, with the total numbers not yet fully determined, will also arise under the overall programme supported by EC Structural Funds.