Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I am glad the Senator has given me the opportunity to outline the position regarding capital development at Mary Immaculate College of Education, Limerick.

The Minister for Education and Science acknowledges the contribution and commitment of Mary Immaculate College of Education to teacher education in this country. Its response to the demand for additional primary teaching places is commendable with numbers increasing from approximately 850 in 1998-99 to over 1,400 at present. The Department acknowledges the need for infrastructural development at the college.

A masterplan, which set out a framework for future development at Mary Immaculate College of Education, was completed in 2001. The Department of Education and Science concurred with the basic thrust of the masterplan and a design team was appointed for a first phase of development at the college and the initiation of architectural design, which is outlined in the Department of Education and Science design team procedures. These procedures comprise nine stages, covering architectural planning, preparation of tender documentation, tender report/contract approval, construction and final account stages.