Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister and her officials for bringing the Bill to the House and responding so quickly to the requests of the president and governing authority of University College Galway. As some other issues arose during the debate I hope the Minister will return soon to debate them thoroughly in the fullness of time. It is important that the additional resources the Minister has made available to the universities will be distributed in a fair and equitable manner and that the agreement mentioned previously, that was within the college, can be spread to the other colleges in order that there will be a fair distribution of resources where the need is greatest.

That University College Galway is unique in the west in terms of its importance to the economy of the region is recognised by the Minister in the allocation of funding. I look forward to further announcements in that area in the future.