Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 31 Mar 1999

Vol. 503 No. 1

Written Answers. - Institutes of Technology.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

136 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science his Department's policy on the inclusion of the upgrading of Waterford Institute of Technology to university status as a clear, well-funded and major element of the National Development Plan 2000-2005 as the only effective method of combating the regional deficit in participation by students in degree courses both ab initio and add-on and ensuring the optimum economic and industrial development of the south east region in the new millennium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9415/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

Early in 1997, Waterford Regional Technical College was redesignated as the Waterford Institute of Technology and arrangements were put in place to carry through the process leading to the delegation to the institute of authority to make awards . This process was initiated through the appointment of a review team chaired by Professor Dervilla Donnelly. The results of this academic review published on 5 March 1999 recommended that Waterford Institute of Technology become one of the first institutes to have the delegated power to make awards in respect of all existing NCEA-validated national certificate and diploma courses. The review group also recommended that, after an appropriate period of time following the delegation of award-making authority in respect of certificate and diploma courses, a review should take place concerning the further delegation in respect of primary degree courses.

The objective of significantly increasing the level of degree provision available in WIT has been implemented steadily. Since 1995 ten new degree courses have been approved. While the overall student enrolment has increased by 35 per cent since 1995, the numbers on degree courses have increased by 74 per cent, 97 per cent for ab initio. The proportion of graduates these represent has increased by 5 per cent to 29 per cent. This will increase further because of the expansion in places in the last two years.

An increase in the academic staffing of the institute is an essential part of its continued development. For the current academic year alone my Department provided sanction for the hiring of an additional 30 staff on top of the increases in the previous two years.

The recurrent funding of the institute was also increased by £2.2 million, or 21 per cent, last year alone. This represents quite a dramatic level of funding increase. The over £14 million on capital allocated to the institute will further develop its facilities and enhance the quality of its work. Taken together, these investments show an unmatched commitment to the future development of WIT.

Waterford Institute of Technology will continue to play a major and growing role in Irish higher education. It has a distinctive and unique mission in the south east region which the Government intends to maintain. The Government has demonstrated its commitment to the institute through both the provisions of the Qualifications Bill and the Universities Act. The statutory provisions will be there to ensure the institute has the power, when it wishes, to seek to obtain additional devolved authority. This is an objective academic procedure.