Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 20 May 1993

Vol. 136 No. 6

Adjournment Matters. - Provision of Castlebar (Mayo) Regional Technical College.

Mr. Burke

A Chathaoirligh, thank you for allowing me to raise this matter. I welcome the Minister to the House. The case for provision of a regional technical college in Castlebar has been made in both Houses of the Oireachtas. I am disappointed that the Minister for Education is not here but I have no doubt that Minister Howlin will inform her of what was said.

Mayo is the third largest county and has one of the highest participation rates of third level students. Students from Mayo have to travel great distances weekly to third level colleges throughout the country. This puts great pressure on families and students.

The recent report, Eduation in a Changing World indicates clearly that 30,000 extra third level places will be needed by the year 2001. The former Minister for Education, Deputy Brennan, stated it was his objective as Minister to ensure that every second level student who so wished, could attend third level college. The present Minister has stated that by the turn of the century that there will be more than 100,000 third level students in this country. This copperfastens my case for further third level colleges.

Every Sunday there is a mass exodus of students from County Mayo to various parts of the country. Mayo is the third largest county and has a great need for a third level institution. Mayo is more than a county; it is a region and any rural development policy should have the provision of a third level college in Mayo as one of its priorities.

The case for a third level college in Mayo is well documented and supported by the various industries and manufacturing agencies within the county. The developing the west initiative — which is assisted by the bishops — the GAA, the Irish Farmers' Association, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers, the Irish Country Womens' Association, Mayo County Council, Castlebar Urban District Council, the Mayo County Vocational Education Committee and every parent and student, fully support the need for a third level college in our county.

The Tánaiste, Deputy Spring, has already committed himself to supporting the case for a regional college for Mayo. Last November, a former Minister for Justice, now Commissioner, Pádraig Flynn announced on behalf of the Government that a third level college would be established in Mayo in 1993 to take 200 to 250 students at the outset rising to 800 students after three years.

The people of Mayo are annoyed with the number of U-turns that have been made. We were promised a regional technical college and an extension to Davitt College in Castlebar. Some years ago, Castlebar was promised third level courses in Davitt College but this was not possible because the college was designed for 500 students and now has 800 students.

I spoke here on a previous occasion about the provision of a kidney dialysis unit in Castlebar and we will be welcoming the Minister to Castlebar soon. We hope he will announce the provision of a kidney dialysis unit at that stage and perhaps the second phase of the hospital.

I thank the Western Health Board for providing a portion of St. Mary's Hospital complex in Castlebar for a college. This means it will not cost a fortune to set up a third level institution in Mayo. We would like the Minister for Education, who will be visiting Mayo soon to honour the commitment given by a previous Government that third level courses would commence in Castlebar in 1993.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

I commend Senator Burke on his ingenuity in raising so many of Mayo's concerns under the title of the need for a regional college, and I have made careful note of his comments. I speak on behalf of the Minister for Education who cannot be here because she is involved in a series of seminars in preparation for the publication of the Education Bill. I am sure the House wishes her well in those deliberations and in the consultation process which will take a long time.

I would like to outline, on behalf of the Minister for Education, the dramatic changes which have taken place in higher education over the past generation. The number of students in third level education has more than trebled from 21,000 in 1965 to about 80,000 at present. As the Senator indicated, current projections suggest that there will be over 100,000 students by the turn of the century.

The growth and success of the regional technical colleges has been particularly dramatic with more than 22,000 students now in place. Growth in expenditure on third level education has also increased significantly, now accounting for 22 per cent of the education budget as against 8 per cent in 1966.

In relation to meeting the increased demand for third level places generally, a new capital investment programme is currently being drawn up to build on the success of the 1990-93 programme. The responses from institutions in this context are clearly targeted at the Government's policy of economic growth and job creation.

These are very positive indicators of the programme which highlight the Government's commitment to the systematic expansion and development of the higher education sector and underline the willing co-operation which has been forthcoming from all higher education institutions in maximising the use of existing facilities and resources.

The increasing demand for higher education and the value placed on the siting of institutions is reflected in the increasing pressure from various locations for the provision of new institutions. Castlebar, Thurles, Blanchardstown, Dún Laoghaire and my own home town of Wexford have put forward particularly strong cases. We in Wexford share the same experience of seeing students leave for Dublin, Cork or the regional technical colleges in Carlow or Waterford every weekend.

An Cathaoirleach

Or Athlone.

Mr. Howlin

And Athlone. There are many competing towns seeking this important facility. Unlike Mayo which has a high level of participation in third level education, my county has the third worst level of participation in third level education and this is causing great concern. All these matters are being carefully considered by the Minister for Education.

It is clear that higher education requires a very large investment by the State and there is, therefore, very heavy responsibility to ensure that this investment is maximised so that the system operates on a well co-ordinated, equitable and transparent basis. Proper planning and informed decisions on investment are essential.

Decisions on investment must have regard to priorities in educational provision with particular regard to the disadvantaged; the most effective use of scarce resources; additional places required overall; viability of establishing new centres as against the expansion of existing institutions; local and regional participation rates; the contribution such investment will make to regional development and overall economic welfare; and the type and level of courses needed, bearing in mind their contribution to productive enterprise.

Bearing this in mind the Minister recently announced in the Dáil that she proposed to examine the needs of different regions, socio-economic groups and the overall needs of society with a view to developing an integrated plan in the context of third level education generally and in the context of the White Paper on Education.

The study will be carried out by the Higher Education Authority. Terms of reference are currently being finalised and it is expected to get under way within a matter of weeks. In line with the Government's objective of achievement of aims through the highest level of democratic participation, such a review will be expected to consider submissions from all interested parties. Decisions on new institutions must await the outcome of this review.

In the meantime, the Minister has been aware of the particular pressures relating to the Castlebar situation. She has invited County Mayo Vocational Education Committee to submit their views on appropriate developments in County Mayo and looks forward to receiving comprehensive proposals. She has stated that, as part of the developments, she would be prepared to approve of the first year of national certificate programmes on an outreach basis. Subject to viability, including adequate demand, resource availability — including availability of suitable accommodation — and agreement with interested parties, it is hoped that programmes could commence in September 1993.

The Minister has also agreed to visit Castlebar to discuss this matter with interested parties. This visit will take place on 2 June.

The Seanad adjourned at 5.25 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 26 May 1993.