There are no plans at present to estab lish a third level institute in the Dublin Mid-West constituency.
The future development of higher education in the west Dublin regions will be on the basis of the recommendations of the steering committee on the future development of higher education, which the Government approved in July 1996 as a benchmark for future planning in the technology sector. In accordance with its remit, the committee reviewed the existing provisions and needs for higher education in specific areas. As a response to the higher education needs of west Dublin the steering committee anticipated that the greater Clondalkin region, would be served by Tallaght Regional Technical College and the provision of a new facility in the north-west region. This new facility, Blanchardstown Institute of Technology, was subsequently established in 1999 and was officially opened in November 2000.
In its 1979 study, Clancy and Benson recommended the provision of a number of new colleges in the greater Dublin region. The first two of these to be in Tallaght and in the Dun Laoghaire-Shankill-Bray area with a third college to be provided in Blanchardstown. Since this study the Tallaght regional technological colleges has expanded and has been re-designated as an institute of technology while the former School of Art in Dun Laoghaire has been re-designated as the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art and Design and Technology.
The Deputy will appreciate that documentation submitted some 11 years ago is likely to be archived. However, the Deputy may, if he wishes provide my Department with a copy of the submission in question.
