Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would like to be able to thank the Minister of State for his response, but I do not think it did anything to alleviate the concerns I have expressed. The one thing I can probably take from the answer is the reference to the sustainability study that is being carried out by the HEA. It is examining how will this country's third level institutions will be funded in the future. On that basis alone, I do not think any college should make a decision now that will affect the future of any campus under its control. For that reason, LYIT should be encouraged or told to sustain its current provision of education at Killybegs while the outcome of the HEA's study is awaited. We can deal with the report when the time comes. It is vitally important for the recovery of large parts of the country that these courses are retained in the areas where they have been provided for many years. The Killybegs campus can and will play a very important role in the recovery and development of south-west Donegal. It cannot do that unless the services and educational courses that are currently provided at Killybegs are maintained and a plan is put in place to ensure the campus can grow and develop. I call on the Minister of State to impress that on the HEA and the board of governors of LYIT. We need to ensure this can happen for the future.

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