Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 583: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the provision of a third level college on the northside of Cork city; if there has been any progress made between the Higher Education Authority and her Department in moving this project forward; if University College Cork and the Cork Institute of Technology are committed to this very important facility; if all interested parties will meet to proceed as quickly as possible and resolve outstanding issues; if she or the Office of Public Works have been trying to secure a suitable site; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a college (details supplied) is closing in the near future and that this will present a great opportunity to purchase the site and situate a third level facility at same; if she is committed to providing this proposal; the progress to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31856/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As the Deputy is aware, in October 1999 Cork Institute of Technology and University College Cork made a joint proposal to establish a Cork college of higher education. A former city manager of Cork was appointed in January 2000 to undertake further analysis of the project and this report was presented to my Department in January 2001. A task force was then established to scope the detailed arrangements for the establishment of the college including site identification, proposed course mix, management structures, etc. A site for the proposed college was identified in the grounds of the diocesan college at Farranferris.

However, the review and prioritisation of capital projects in the higher education sector of 2004, the Kelly report, considered the proposal and stated that the group considered that the policy framework for this project required further development before a meaningful review of the investment requirement could be undertaken. In light of the Kelly report, a re-examination of the proposal would be required before any capital funding, including capital funding to acquire a site, could be considered. Pending such an examination it would not be appropriate to proceed with the further development of the proposal.

The Deputy should be aware that the number of third level places in Cork has increased dramatically since 1999, when the proposal to establish a Cork college of higher education was made, through a major expansion of both UCC and CIT.

Student numbers in UCC increased by 28% between 1998 and 2004, while student numbers in CIT increased by 43% during the same period. Over €110 million has been invested in capital projects in these two instructions since 1997.

The number of students from Cork going to third level in their home county or elsewhere in the country has also increased considerably, with an increase of more than 18% in the number of 17 to 19 year olds from Cork entering third level between 1998 and 2003. Indeed the third level participation rate in Cork is above the national average. Targeted measures are in place to assist students from disadvantaged areas in going to third level and these are helping more students from these areas to avail of a third level education than ever before.