With my colleagues in the Fianna Fáil Party and Deputy Quill I raise this matter to convey to the Minister and the House the depths of anger and resentment felt in the city of Cork, particularly among the staff and students of Cork regional technical college, resulting from the Minister's failure to respond in any way to a submission by the college seeking an upgrading of its status to an institute of technology.
The constituent colleges of Cork regional technical college have a long tradition of excellence in science, engineering, technology, business, arts and music dating back to the 19th century. The college offers programmes at certificate, diploma, degree, masters and doctorate levels within all of these disciplines.
Given its record of achievement it is difficult to understand why the Minister has ignored its submission to date and why she has failed to meet a delegation of the governing body of the college to discuss their request for such an upgrading. It is rather pathetic that the Minister cannot meet the people concerned directly. We welcome the decision to upgrade Waterford regional technical college to an institute of technology. However, we contend that Cork Regional Technical College is entitled to such upgrading given its track record, its outstanding achievements in the past and its visionary plans for the future.
I visited the college on Tuesday last, when it was heartrending to see the disappointment and disillusionment written on the faces of a dedicated staff and student body. The students contend that the quality of their work has been undermined, that their qualifications will be devalued ultimately because of the Minister's inaction and that, on the international stage, their degrees will not have the same currency as has been the case to date.
In reaching any decisions in respect of this sector the Minister should have established and published set minimum criteria to which all other regional technical colleges could aspire to achieve a similar upgrading of status. Only through the creation of a proper national framework can a rational and planned approach be adopted.
The reason there is such anger in Cork, that people genuinely feel that Cork regional technical college deserves an upgrading in status, is simple. By any external criterion the college is more than entitled to such status. I invite anybody from outside the college to assess the position independently and I have no doubt they would reach the same conclusion. Cork is one of the regional technical colleges which has developed a very extensive post-graduate research base. Four national technology centres, providing specialised services to industry, are located within the campus; over 10,000 students are involved and within the CAO/CAS system the college has the highest points for entry of all the regional technical colleges.
The students themselves are extremely concerned about the status of their qualifications. The Minister cannot adopt an á la carte approach and must take on board the students' deep concerns. They deserve the best and to have their qualifications recognised internationally.
I want the Minister to give the House a commitment that she will travel to Cork over the next few days, that she will meet the student bodies who have been protesting outside of the City Hall in Cork for the past few days. I want the Minister to meet them and their leaders directly. She talks much about partnership in education, about consultation. Why not go to Cork, meet the students involved, the director of the college and take the decision which is their due as urgently as possible?
