I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together.
In July 1996, the Government approved in principle the recommendations in the report of the Steering Committee on the Future Development of Higher Education as a benchmark for future planning in the sector subject to regular review. As a response to the higher education needs of the south east region, the report recommended an increase in student places in what was then the Regional Technical College, Waterford, an increase in degree level awards and a change of title to Regional Institute of Technology.
Since the report of the steering committee was published the number of full-time students in the institute has increased from the 1994-5 level of 3,500 to 4,740 in 1997-8.
An increase in degree level provision has been sanctioned by my Department in respect of Waterford Institute of Technology in the context of meeting the identified higher education needs of the south east region. The following is a list of degree level courses sanctioned since 1995: BA in Applied Social Studies, B Sc in Applied Biology, BA in Legal and Business Studies, BA in Applied Languages, BSc in Commercial Software Development, BA in Financial Services, BA in General and Corporate Administration, BA in Accounting, BSc in Manufacturing Systems Engineering, and B Eng in Electronic Engineering. The institute submitted to my Department a framework for its development and this proposal is the subject of ongoing negotiations with officials.