asked the Minister for Education if he has sanctioned the building of a regional college in Castlebar, County Mayo; the estimated cost of this building; and the date on which it is proposed to commence work.

The Higher Education Authority have commissioned a report in higher education needs generally and I understand that this report will be ready early in the new year. The authority will submit that report to me, when it is completed, together with their own recommendations.

The question of providing such a facility to serve Castlebar and the adjoining region has separately been raised with me some time ago and, as a result, I wish to reiterate my commitment to the provision of such a facility in Castlebar.

Can the Minister give any time scale in relation to the proposed development for Castlebar?

As I have had to explain to some of the Deputy's colleagues recently, the most essential ingredient in planning any facility such as this is to obtain a suitable site. I have had representations made to me by one of the Deputy's colleagues in that area with regard to a possible suitable site which might be made available by particular interests in the area. I am now awaiting a firm indication from them as to whether that site might be available. If it is available and suitable this will, of course, speed up the question of providing a regional college in Castlebar.

Despite the fact that the Minister has stated that he is waiting for a report from the Higher Education Authority in relation to this matter, do I take it, irrespective of what their report will be, that he is committed to providing this regional college for Castlebar?

Yes. In my reply I pointed out that the HEA had commissioned this report and that it should be ready early in the new year but that, separately, representations have been made to me with regard to the Castlebar area and as a result of those representations, which were made some time ago, I want to reiterate my commitment to providing a regional college in Castlebar. This is irrespective of the recommendations which may be contained in the HEA report.

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