Liam Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail)

——into the future development of higher education. The issue first surfaced in the 1980s. The question of the closure of one or both colleges of home economics arose during this period, having regard to the demand for home economics teachers into the future. A report was prepared by a steering committee on the future development of higher education in June 1995. The president of St. Angela's College was a member of that committee. Although the specialist teacher requirements were part of the committee's remit, the examination of future needs was not completed and the committee referred the matter back to the Department and the HEA. An advisory group was then reconvened and following a report in 1996, it recommended the maintenance of the status quo in June 1998.

A significant development subsequently occurred. The Dominican congregation, the trustee of St. Catherine's, decided for personnel and financial reasons that it was no longer in a position to fulfil its role as trustee. Consequently, discussions began with the Department with a view to transferring this role and the associated responsibilities. A consultant was appointed to prepare a report on the options available for consideration by the then Minister. As we know, that report was published in July 2002.