Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will reverse the decision of her predecessor to close a college (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24017/04]

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will reconsider the situation regarding the future of a college (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24212/04]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will reconsider the decision of her predecessor to close a college (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24220/04]

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the situation regarding the future of a college (details supplied) in County Dublin; if, in arriving at a decision on this matter, she took into consideration the advice of the consultant and her own Department officials; if the college will be kept open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24467/04]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will reconsider the decision to close a college (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24518/04]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 135, 150, 154, 176 and 179 together.

The issue of the future of the college, which is the subject of the questions posed by the Deputies, arose in the context of a decision by the trustees of the college that, due to personnel and financial considerations, they were no longer in a position to fulfil the role of trustees of the college. Following discussions between the trustees and my Department, it was agreed that a consultant would be appointed who would meet with relevant parties and prepare a report on the options for the college's future.

The consultant's report was thoroughly examined in my Department and the options for the future of the college were set out for my predecessor's consideration. Having carefully considered all of them and having taken into account other factors such as the national spatial strategy, relevant costs in a time of financial constraint, a Government decision to restrict public service numbers, the need to secure value for money and a better allocation of resources, the then Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, decided that these considerations are best served by the closure of the college and the designation of St. Angela's College, Sligo as the sole centre for the training of home economics teachers.

It was agreed that the closure of the college would be phased over three academic years to facilitate students enrolled in the college to fully complete their studies without moving location and to ensure that there was an adequate transition period for staff. On that basis there has been no intake of first year students to the college for the 2004-05 year. Instead, these students are now in St. Angela's College. Officials from my Department have already met with the trustees and with management authorities of the college to discuss the necessary practical arrangements, including arrangements in relation to the position of the staff of the college. I have no plans to reconsider the decision to close the college.