Vol. 538 No. 5
175 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals he has to facilitate people in acquiring a higher diploma in education who are not in a position to live adjacent to the university centres which provide the course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18475/01]
The higher diploma in education programme is a one year full-time post-graduate qualification programme which is offered by five universities, Trinity College Dublin and the four constituent universities of the National University of Ireland at Cork, Dublin, Galway and Maynooth. Entry to the programme is subject to an entry quota, the setting of which is monitored on an ongoing basis by my Department and the Higher Education Authority. At present there are 1,000 places available on the programme, including 40 places on the higher diploma in education programme offered through the medium of Irish in NUI Galway. There are no plans to alter the programme at present.
