Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 4 Dec 1997

Vol. 484 No. 2

Written Answers. - Regional Technical College Status.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

34 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science when he will be seeking Government approval to publish the legislation sought by Waterford Institute of Technology in view of the fact that the institute has rejected the recommendations of the report of the high level group as setting the blueprint for its future development and demanded its new status be underpinned with its own independent legislation, the same as that for the Dublin Institute of Technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21592/97]

John Perry

Ceist:

53 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science the criteria, if any, which were applied by his predecessor and by his Department in deciding that Waterford Regional Technical College should be redesignated as an institute of technology under the Regional Technical Colleges Acts, 1992 to 1994; when Sligo Regional Technical College will be granted institute of technology status in view of the fact that there is a marked absence of third level institutes of technology north of a line from Dublin to Galway and it is clearly an impediment to the industrial gearing up we have seen in places like Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway. [21632/97]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 53 together.

I am confident that, following completion of all necessary consultation, I will be in a position to publish draft legislation which will provide for the co-ordinated development of the technological sector while also acknowledging and recognising the contribution which each institution can make within that sector.

My objective is to facilitate individual colleges in fulfilling their particular missions in meeting the social and economic development needs of their regions while maintaining the empowering coherence of a national technological sector.

I have already indicated that I agree with the need to change the title of regional technical colleges to incorporate the common feature institute of technology, as recommended in the report of the high level group on the technological sector.

However, the single most important issue which will underpin the future of colleges is resources. Through the education technology investment fund, I have secured a major investment programme for the colleges which will re-inforce their role as key components of the economic development of their regions.

As the Deputy will be aware, a well-defined process is in place to evaluate whether institutions should award their own qualifications. This involves rigorous evaluation by national and international experts. Waterford and Cork are currently going through this process.