Vol. 506 No. 6
103 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science the intake to the colleges of education for 1999 to 2000 broken down by intake to the B.Ed. course and the post graduate course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16077/99]
The precise intake to the colleges of education for primary teachers for the 1999-2000 year and the question of running a further training course for degree holders is the subject of ongoing discussions involving the colleges, the higher education authority and my Department. In this context my Department informed the colleges in 1998 that the 1998 level of intake, 1,000 approximately, will need to be maintained for the next three to four years. The Deputy will appreciate that the level of intake at the time I took up office was 500.
Should it be decided to run a further training course for university graduates this will be announced publicly.
