Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

Perhaps the Minister helped it change its mind. If the college is seeking a good location, it might look to the south east, which has a great tradition of art and design going back as far as 1963 when the then Minister for Education, Patrick Hillery, established the Kilkenny Design Workshops. This State entity was shut down by the Government in 1988 at a time when there was no money. Given that we now have money and given that real estate in Kilkenny is available, relocating the National College of Art and Design to Kilkenny would fit in the city's artistic tradition if this proposal re-emerges. The Minister should consider relocating the college to Kilkenny if she is serious about re-location and decentralisation. Simply moving the college up the road to Belfield is not enough. It is not necessary for the college to be located in our capital city when there is an opportunity for Kilkenny, given its tradition of art and design, to be considered as well. I welcome this Bill and the opportunity to speak on it.

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