Michael Bell
Ceist:35 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education and Science when the national seafarers' college will be established and operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3351/01]
Written Answers. - National Maritime College.
Following a Government decision in May 2000, approval was given for the establishment of a national maritime college in Ringaskiddy, County Cork, using the public-private partnership model. The national maritime college will accommodate the Department of Nautical Studies of the Cork Institute of Technology and the Naval College of the Irish Naval Service. Planning for the provision of the college is well under way in my Department.
Following an advertisement in the Official Journal of the European Communities, OJEC, and in the national media, management consultants were recently appointed to support my Department's public private partnership unit with the procurement of the project. In parallel with the process of appointing management consultants, an application for outline planning permission for the new college was submitted by the Cork Institute of Technology to Cork County Council in September 2000.
A project board has been established comprising representatives of my Department's public-private partnership and planning and building units, Cork Institute of Technology, the Naval Service and the management consultants to oversee the implementation of the project. The project board has already commenced work and it is intended to issue a prior information notice in the OJEC this week to ascertain the level of interest in the market from interested consortia.
Although it is not possible at this stage of the project to give the Deputy a detailed timetable, I assure him that it is my intention that the planning and provision of the new college is given top priority in my Department.