Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)

Deputy O'Sullivan referred to the issue of Seanad votes. While there may be a more appropriate forum to discuss the issue, I agree with the Deputy with regard to votes for students in institutes of technology. If the current system is to be retained, it should extend to all students over the age of 18, be they repeat leaving certificate students or those in further education colleges, institutes of technology or universities. A democratic deficit exists in the operation of the Seanad at present but if the current system is to be retained, any adult who has studied at third level or post leaving certificate level should be allowed to have an input into the Oireachtas. The appropriate Minister should consider the issue.

I broadly welcome the publication of the Bill. As the Minister outlined, the Bill provides for the transfer of funding responsibilities from the Department of Education and Science to the Higher Education Authority, which we know was a major recommendation of the OECD report published two years ago. It provides for considerable positive changes which will transfer responsibilities related to funding, governance and other operations within institutes of technology. In theory this might empower the ITs to respond much more quickly in this globalised economy to the changing educational, social and other related economic requirements. It recognises the role ITs have played in the higher educational field and reflects their reputation as providers of a world class educational experience.

The OECD review was a spur but it goes back to the expert working group report on the future position and roles of institutes of technology which started the ball rolling. It is a welcome step to get this far, whatever about other debates on the need for a tertiary education authority. I do not wish to dwell on the specifics of the Bill because I agree with practically all of it. I may have some concerns about the amended section 7 and section 26 which substitutes Schedule 3 in respect of the provisions applying to the director but they can be expressed at a later stage.

Given that the HEA will have responsibility for both universities and institutes of technology, there is an opportunity to develop a more streamlined and coherent national higher education policy. We know that the funding has been provided because of the announcements made last year which are welcome. It is probably the only area of the education system that is getting the much-needed funding it deserves. In this context, given that funding is being provided and it is hoped the ITs will get their fair share, collaboration could be seen as the way forward. That the HEA will oversee the functions of both types of establishment should enhance co-operation nationally, in terms of shared strategic reserve projects, and to a lesser degree regionally.

There are many opportunities for a collaborative approach to reap awards. As a member of the Friends of Science group, under the remit of Science Foundation Ireland, I have seen several examples of this at a number of breakfast briefings. However, new challenges arise in the area of energy security, as my leader, Deputy Sargent, has pointed out to the Taoiseach. Certainly there is scope for the development of new, bigger and better alternative energy centres of excellence rather than being attached to existing ITs. These could be clustered and located in areas where they would create jobs along the coastline from Donegal to Kerry and could specialise in the development of wave energy. There are also issues of wind energy and biomass, some of which are being examined within our ITs and universities.

Given that Ireland is 80% dependent on the importation of fuel, we need to be self-sufficient down the line. That requires investment in our own research rather than being at the behest of foreign companies who will control these resources. We have the potential, in years to come, to be net exporters of electricity. In that context we need to be in control of our destiny. While the research can be collaborative on an international basis, it must be spurred from an Irish context and any spin-off companies must be Irish owned. Otherwise, if it is owned by an overseas entity, we would still be importing our energy, even if it comes from Ireland.

I will announce green initiatives down the line in conjunction with my colleague in the enterprise, trade and employment portfolio, Deputy Eamon Ryan. I am especially glad the Bill is receiving widespread support among the ITs, the students' unions and the wider academic community. It is also good to note broad cross-party support thus far for this important legislation. The Bill puts the 14 institutes on an equal footing with the seven universities. That is a message that is loud and clear. In that message there is a challenge to improve awareness among the public of the role of ITs and the wide range of academic options provided. The honours degrees and postgraduate qualifications are identical to those of universities as well as non-honours degrees and diplomas, qualifications which are all internationally recognised. There is also the added benefit of easier interchangeability and transference between courses.

I read with interest the article by Mr. Jim Devine, chairman of the council of directors of the institutes of technology, in yesterday's edition of The Irish Times. He pointed out that the IT sector is thriving but there is still an issue of parental prejudice and a communications problem. He pointed out that 50% of all students entering higher education attend ITs and more than 20,000 study part-time either on campus or in the workplace and can build credits towards the internationally recognised qualifications. Some 1,200 students are engaged in programmes at masters and doctorate levels and IT graduates have been pivotal in underpinning economic growth and in providing the knowledge, professionalism and skills base that continues to make Ireland a location of choice for inward investment. As Mr. Devine highlights, market research commissioned by the ITs shows that just over one third of people have an unprompted awareness of the sector.

The HEA report shows that of those who went to college in 2004, only 18% of students from Dublin went to ITs in 2004-05 — the lowest number in the country — while Sligo had the highest number at 34%. There is still some work to be done by the ITs and the Minister in promoting the sector. It is not taking away from the role of the ITs in terms of offering access to a wide social and academic mix of students, and increasing the access from families with no tradition of higher education.

It is one thing to invest in higher education and transfer responsibility for day-to-day management but it is another matter to ensure access is provided to students from all walks of life. For example, in my constituency, there has been a small improvement in areas of disadvantage such as Clondalkin, Bawnogue and Neilstown where the attendance rate at third level was 22.8% from 1998 to 2004. A closer look at the figures show that only 14% were an honours degree admission rate compared with 60.9% in Ballsbridge and Ringsend. It is one thing to facilitate the onward march of the ITs, which probably have the best record of access for people from disadvantaged areas, but another to maintain that level of work. As this matter will be discussed in the committee tomorrow, I will not dwell on it.

In regard to one of the larger ITs in Dublin and the Grangegorman Development Agency, the telephone calls and the e-mails have continued since the debate last year on the legislation. Dublin Institute of Technology students' union is adamant that it needs to have a role on the board, as does the local community. If there is any way of facilitating that request, despite what happened through the passing of the legislation, will the Minister consider it in order that all parties feel they are a stakeholder in the project?

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