Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

Senator Terry said Dublin people might like to stay in Dublin. If one wants to follow a specialist course, one will travel.

While the decision was taken on the basis of all the considerations, I reiterate that the issue would not have arisen but for the recognition of the difficulties the Dominican trustees were having. We are faced with circumstances in which a decision has been taken and is being implemented. There are no first year students at St. Catherine's while there is a double intake of students in St Angela's. There is no evidence that there is a need to provide extra places. According to the reports we have, the numbers being taken in now are adequate to meet our needs. There does not appear to be any reason to maintain a college in Dublin.

Many decisions have been taken by previous Ministers and I regret that I am not in a position to reverse them. People are asking me, though not in this House, to reverse the decision of a previous Minister for Education and Science on free fees. While I will not be reversing that decision either, Members would try to make sure I did not do so if I indicated such an intention.