Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 16: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the reasons it has been decided to move the Froebel College of Education from Blackrock, County Dublin to NUI Maynooth, County Kildare in September 2013; the location at which the new purpose-built Froebel centre for early childhood and primary education will be on the university campus; if additional staff, both academic and administrative, will be required; the capital cost and the subsequent operating costs of the new purpose-built building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23709/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Froebel College of Education in Blackrock, Co. Dublin was established by the Dominican Sisters in 1943. Currently Froebel College of Education is funded by my Department for its initial primary teacher education programmes. The management and trustees of Froebel College of Education have entered into discussions with the National University of Maynooth with a view to the work of the College becoming part of the University's operations and an announcement to this effect was recently made.

The College is a private institution and is free to enter into such talks and my Department has no objection in principle to the planned move. My Department has advised both institutions that such a move must meet the requirements of the Universities Act 1997, and that the Higher Education Authority should be consulted with regard to the requirements. It is understood that discussions in this regard are ongoing.

It is proposed that a "Froebel Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education" be established at the University and that all of the student teachers from Froebel College will move to the University campus. I understand that NUIM proposes to build a new facility on campus to facilitate the incorporation of the College. The details of the capital build and the financing and staffing arrangements have yet to be finalised.