There is nothing more important or desirable in a satellite town than a third level education facility to accommodate the rapidly increasing teenage population. The people of the greater Blanchardstown area want the Higher Education Authority to recommend Blanchardstown as a chosen location for a third level college.
A delegation comprising the community council, industrialists, educationalists, other interest groups and myself made a cogent case for such a facility. We had excellent help from the forward planning department of Fingal County Council which identified in great detail the demographics of Dublin 15 and the wider environs of the west side of Dublin. This facility is urgently needed. There are six feeder post primary schools and colleges in the greater Blanchardstown area, which includes east Meath, north Kildare, Clondalkin, Lucan and the parts of north county Dublin linked by the motorway.
The National College for Industrial Relations recommended a campus which could accommodate 1,800 students and submitted its proposal to the Higher Education Authority in a pragmatic and professional manner. The Minister should urge the steering committee, set up to evaluate the type of campus and curriculum necessary, to submit its proposals. We must respond to the potential shortage of computer and other technical skills in the workforce. How better to address this matter than to provide a third level regional college in the greater Blanchardstown area to give those hundreds of post-primary pupils emerging from schools and colleges annually the opportunity to pursue third level education.
I am not going to nor do I have time to evaluate the comprehensive submission of the National College of Industrial Relations to the appropriate body. I studied it in detail and it is a most impressive document. A competent committee was appointed by the Minister to evaluate what is best for the new project in Blanchardstown. I understand the Taoiseach will inform the House about the publication of the Book of Estimates next Wednesday. I hope it will include a subheading that will provide for the practical commencement of this project and the appointment of a professional team to deal with it. The Department of Education and Science and Fingal County Council have agreed on moving the project from a restricted site beside the town centre to a larger site elsewhere. All the ingredients are there for a third level facility which I hope the Minister will kick-start into action in early 1998 and that it will come on stream as soon as is practical thereafter.
Lest there by any doubts regarding the legal status of the National College of Industrial Relations, I am informed by the personnel concerned that they do not see that as a problem and that they can amend their memorandum and articles of association to accommodate any concerns the Department of Education and Science might have. This project is desirable and important. It would provide young people, particularly from the west side of this county and from city perimeter areas, with an opportunity to pursue third level education. Previous studies and reports highlighted a lack of opportunity in that regard for pupils emerging from post-primary schools in those areas.
This is an opportunity to give heart to teenagers in the greater Blanchardstown area. A commitment was given by the previous Government in this regard and we undertook to honour it. I hope the Minister of State can give us positive news that action will be taken and that this project will commence in early 1998.