Relief as `skills-shortage' places created

The education sector's love affair with Minister Micheal Martin continues. At third level, they're particularly ecstatic.

As foretold in E&L last week, the Minister for Education and Science has unveiled a £75 million third-level investment plan to allow for the creation of 5,400 third-level places in engineering and computing. The long-awaited (some would say long-overdue) announcement, has been made in response to the report of the Expert Group on Future Skill Needs, which was chaired by Dr Chris Horn, chief executive of Iona Technologies.

This £75 million is in addition to the £250 million Technology Investment Fund and the £180 million programme for research. The fact that the link between education and economic growth is now widely accepted by business, Government and by the public at large is due in no small part to Martin's efforts, according to the director of the Conference of Heads of Irish Universities, Michael McGrath. "The critical role which information technology now plays in virtually every aspect of the global economy, including areas not often associated with high technology, means that the demand for people with high-technology skills will be a constant feature of educational planning in all economies competing for inward investment," the Minister says.

The Department of Education and Science and the HEA will now engage in detailed discussions with the colleges to divide up the £75 million. Preliminary feedback from the institutions indicates that they will be able to provide up to 1,000 extra places this September. The situation looks rosy, but fears are being expressed that delays in approving college proposals could result in fewer places on offer. "Quick delivery will be dependent on fast-track procedures being put in place," one source says. Unfortunately, the Department of Education and Science does not have full control of the £75 million. It has "delegated sanction" for projects worth up to £3 million only. Larger projects have to be approved by the Department of Finance. According to the Department of Education and Science, this is normal procedure. The Department is aware that dissatisfaction over delays has been expressed, but - according to the Department - when the universities were asked to supply details of delays, they were not forthcoming.

However, the fact remains that another high-spending department - Health and Children - decides on its own capital expenditure. Why can't Education and Science?