Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I understand that point now, I did not grasp it earlier. Certainly, I will communicate that to the Minister for Education and Skills. The Deputy raises what is absolutely a fair point in that respect.

I have no wish to speak directly on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills but the Minister must operate in respect of the future planning and configuration of higher education on the basis of a rational plan from the Higher Education Authority that covers the configuration of need and course mix throughout the third level sector. He received this advice last year and he is proceeding on that basis. It is difficult for any individual college or an individual request to depart from the overall global plan the Minister must observe. I will certainly communicate what the Deputy has said to the Minister, Deputy Quinn.

It is clearly a difficult time for the staff and students involved in the college. In the first instance everyone's thoughts are with them. It is a very human situation. These people are facing the closure of an institution. The same would apply to any third level institution. I hope and expect that the interests of students are kept to the fore of the arrangements being undertaken by the college. The Department has welcomed the fact that the college intends to wind down on a phased basis to facilitate, as far as possible, the completion of students' studies. Meanwhile, I undertake to communicate to the Minister the issues the Deputy has raised in this context.

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