Written Answers. - Higher Education Review.
Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:
140
Mr. Rabbitte
asked the
Minister for Education
if the review of demands and needs in higher education which she told Dáil Éireann on 30 March 1993 would be established, has yet been set up; the terms of reference of the review; the persons who will carry this out; when it will be completed; in view of the strong case for a regional technical college for the Blanchardstown area of County Dublin if she will make an early decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
A steering committee was established under the aegis of the Higher Education Authority to advise me on the future development of the higher education sector.
The steering committee commenced its work in December 1993 with the following terms of reference:
(a) to prepare projections to the year 2015 of the total potential enrolments in higher education by reference to trends and policies in:
—participation levels in senior cycle education;
—transfer rates of school leavers to higher education;
—participation levels of mature and second-chance students;
—improved participation of the socially and economically disadvantaged.
(b) taking account of the overall needs of the economy and society, including regional, socio-economic and equality considerations, and student and labour market demands, formulate best estimates of appropriate balance in the sector, in terms of intake and total student numbers related to
—university and the non-university sectors;
—sub-degree, undergraduate and postgraduate levels;
—disciplines and institutions;
—teacher education with reference to specialist teacher requirements such as home economics, art, music etc.
(c) within the overall national context, examine the needs for higher education on a regional basis and the appropriateness of the current institutional provision by region to meet these needs;
(d) having regard to the continuing high demand for places from school leavers and the growing demand from mature students, make recommendations as to the appropriate weighting to be given for mature students in admission policies.
The members of the steering committee ar as follows:—
Chairperson
Mr. Noel Lindsay, Chairman, Higher Education Authority
Higher Education Authority
Mr. John Hayden
Professor Máire Mulcahy
ICMSA/IFA
Ms Rosemarie Smith, IFA
Mr. Frank Allen, ICMSA
IBEC
Mr. Dermot Killen
Ms Sandra McDevitt
ICTU
Mr. Edmond O'Riordan
Ms Anne Clune
Committee of Heads of Irish Universities
Mr. Michael Kelleher, UCC
Professor John Kelly, UCD
Dr. Frances Ruane, TCD
Council of Higher Education Directors
Mr. Brendan McConamhna, Sligo regional technical college
Mr. Michael O'Donnell, Dublin Institute of Technology
Ms Claire Sinnot, Cork regional technical college
National Youth Council
Fr. Michael MacGreil
Specialist Teachers Institutions
Sr. Marianne O'Connor, President, St. Angela's College of Education
National Council for Education Awards
Dr. Padraig Mac Diarmada, Director
Union of Students of Ireland
Ms Helen O'Sullivan
Department of Finance
Mr. Eugene O'Sullivan
Department of Education
Ms Eleanor Ní Bhriain
Mr. Risteard Mac Suibhne
The committee is due to complete its deliberations in December 1994 and submit its recommendations to me. When I receive the recommendations I will give them my urgent attention.
