Expansion of College Courses

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: The announcement from the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, earlier today regarding Higher Education Authority plans to expand college courses in a range of areas was very welcome. It is very good news for the South East Technological University, which has been deemed to have viable proposals for establishing a veterinary course of some 40 places along with a pharmacy course and an expansion of its nursing course offering. These proposals will now go on to the next phase, where a full business case will be presented. That needs to be brought to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. What is the likely timeline for the process proceeding from where it is now to the point at which we eventually decide that these college courses will open?

The Taoiseach

That is a very good question. We put out a call to the universities, both the technological universities and the traditional universities, and asked them what could be done, within what timeframe and how much it would cost. The next step in the process is to action it. We are going to need all of these places sooner or later. The question is which do we open next year, the year after and the year after that. That is what needs to be worked out now. It will not be the case that it all happens right away. We plan to agree a phasing to ensure that it does all happen over a period of time.