Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2007
433 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will address the plight of 26 mature students who are at present doing the Access to Arts and Human Sciences Certificate Course in the UCD Adult Education Centre to access the Part Time BA evening degree in UCD in view of the fact that this course is to be cancelled (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35350/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe position is that the universities are run as autonomous institutions. They are also academically independent and my Department does not have any function in the day to day operational affairs of such colleges. Decisions on staffing arrangements and programme provision are made by the universities themselves. The universities receive a block grant from the Higher Education Authority and it is a matter for each institution to determine how it is allocated internally.
