Vol. 475 No. 1
208 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Education her views on the fact that there is no student representative on the Higher Education Authority; whether she will consider appointing such a representative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4255/97]
The Higher Education Authority Act, 1971, provides that the membership of the Authority shall comprise a chairman and not more than 18 ordinary members, of whom at least seven shall be academic members and at least seven shall be other than academic members. An academic member means a member who, at the time of the appoinment, holds a teaching or research post in a university of designated institution under the 1971 Act.
The ordinary members of the Authority are appointed by the Government on my recommendation following consultation with the chairman of the Authority. There are no vacancies on the Authoroty at present. I will, however, keep the issue of student representation on the Authority under review.
