Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

I am happy to support this Bill, which has been given the broad approval of staff and students in the various institutes of technology. The fact that the ITs will be placed under the Higher Education Authority means they will be under the same overall umbrella as other third level institutions.

The institutes have requested the change, as it will take them out from under the direct control of the Department of Education and Science and allow them greater autonomy in making decisions and designing their courses. The move has also been recommended by other bodies that believe this will facilitate the ITs in strengthening their relationship with the broader economy.

This aspect is important to the Institute of Technology Tralee, especially given that the north campus shares the same site as the Kerry Technology Park. While there is a close relationship between the two, I have at times asked why the IDA has not made more of this in attempting to attract technological industry to the town.

The computer and business courses available at the IT, especially in the area of e-learning, are much praised and geared towards finding graduates employment in these type of industries. It is to be hoped this aspect of its work will be enhanced by its new status under this legislation when it is passed.

The Institute of Technology Tralee is a significant part of the town's life. Currently, there are 3,500 students and 250 staff. That alone is a large contribution to the town and surrounding area, but most of all it provides an opportunity for third level education within the county for many students who might not otherwise get one. It is to be hoped the greater scope given to ITs under the new legislation will see this aspect expanded upon.

As with other educational establishments, there are certain problems. I note the Teachers Union of Ireland has some concerns about the Bill. Hopefully, these will be resolved before the new structures are put into place. Currently, there is a campaign among students in Tralee to be provided with crèche facilities. This is obviously a crucial issue and the fact it is regarded as being so important is indicative of the changing structures of the student population and the increasing role of women in education. This is only one aspect of the relationship between an educational institution and the community but it is one that needs to be addressed if educational opportunities are to be extended.

One of the successes attributed to the ITs is their role in providing education to communities where participation has traditionally been low. To some extent, this has helped to address the problems faced by those who find themselves in a situation whereby they are unable to access jobs because of their lack of skill levels and may also lack the resources to enable them to return to education. Some of these deficiencies may be directly related to their educational levels, such as computer skills and so on, but others are economic and social in nature. As such, it is important those in danger of falling into a situation of long-term poverty are given the opportunity to return to education and, in that way, acquire the necessary skills to access employment.

One of the issues is the type of grants available. We are all familiar with the problems that have arisen in this respect. Many will also be aware of the large number of young mothers who wish to return to education and the importance of their being able to have child care services. Part of that has to do with finance, but as the campaign in Tralee illustrates, much of it could be addressed if the crèche facilities were provided within the institution. Therefore, I hope this issue is quickly addressed in the interests of all concerned.

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