Vol. 484 No. 2
38 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education and Science whether the joint proposals from CERT and the Department of Education and Science to create an additional 424 places for catering students in six regional technical colleges will go ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21611/97]
The emergence of skills shortages in the tourism sector has become a matter of great concern to the Government, given the significance of the industry to the economy. The present capacity of the education system to respond to the problem was constrained by the infrastructural inadequacies of the regional technical colleges, many of which were established more than 25 years ago. In addition, much of the existing infrastructure is unsuitable and is in need of replacement.
Significant capital investment is, therefore, required to facilitate the enhancement of existing facilities and the provision of the additional places. A provision of £20 million from the scientific and technological education (investment) fund is being set aside to support appropriate tourism related capital developments in the colleges. These funds will be additional to the existing investment programmes of support for the sector.
Decisions concerning the level and timing of support for the additional places at the various colleges will be made early in 1998.
