Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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28. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will respond to objections raised by staff of Dublin Institute of Technology regarding the provision of Shell funding towards the new visual art degree in Erris, County Mayo, which is being offered by DIT and Mayo County Council [32217/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The position is that higher education institutions, including Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), are autonomous bodies and their day to day operational affairs including issues such as the provision of on-line courses are the responsibility of the management authority and governing body of the Institute.

However, I understand that the HEA has been in contact with the Institute and has been advised that this course is being made available following an approach made to DIT by Mayo County Council to replicate an existing programme that they offer in Sherkin Island, Co. Cork. DIT has agreed to develop the programme, which can commence in September 2013 subject to sufficient numbers of interested and qualified applicants.

I also understand that DIT is in on-going discussion with colleagues in the relevant department's of the Institute in relation to the delivery of the new programme.