Enda Kenny
Ceist:41 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Education if it is proposed to approve the erection of any additional third level colleges; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Development of Higher Education Sector.
Charles Flanagan
Ceist:44 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Education if it is proposed to approve the erection of any additional third level colleges; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Enda Kenny
Ceist:62 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Education if it is proposed to approve the erection of any additional third level colleges; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Patrick D. Harte
Ceist:85 Mr. Harte asked the Minister for Education if it is proposed to approve the erection of any additional third level colleges; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Michael Lowry
Ceist:101 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Education if it is proposed to approve the erection of any additional third level colleges; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Proinsias De Rossa
Ceist:553 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Education the proposals, if any, she has to respond to the need for a third level institution based in Thurles, County Tipperary, which would promote business and rural development; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 44, 62, 85, 101 and 553 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, I have asked a steering committee, established under the aegis of the Higher Education Authority, to advise me on the future development of the higher education sector in Ireland. The committee has met and is preparing projections to the year 2015 of the total potential enrolments in higher education and the corresponding needs required by the sector to facilitate these enrolments.
The committee is carrying out a comprehensive needs analysis of higher education requirements. Its remit includes the overall needs of society and the economy and equality considerations together with the needs of students, including mature and disadvantaged students, and the world of work. The work of the committee will be informed by, and take account of, budgetary and financial considerations.
The committee will shortly be issuing an open invitation to interested parties to make submissions to it.
Accordingly, the question of additional third level colleges cannot be considered until this report is to hand.