The Higher Education Authority, Third Floor, Marine House, Clanwilliam Court, Dublin 2.
Mr W. Kirwan, Assistant Secretary, Department of the Taoiseach, Government Buildings, Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2.
17 May 2001
Dear Mr Kirwan,
1. Before leaving today, Mary Kerr briefed me on the background discussions you had today on the Centre of American Studies at UCD. I have read your fax and the attached proposal and discussed it inside our organisation as thoroughly as the time available permitted.
2. We have, of course, no comment to make on the political background to the proposal at this time. While appreciating that the proposal has been submitted to you at an opportune moment, we are uneasy in its regard. UCD have made no approach, formal or informal to us. We have therefore no costings on which to evaluate the proposals nor a basis for analysing it. While the proposal seems plausible on the basis of the limited material provided to you it is insufficient to reach a judgment on it.
3. Under the terms of the Higher Education Authority Act, 1971 designated institutions are required to submit requests for State subvention to the Authority. While the Authority has not been inflexible in this regard, it has, particularly in recent years, endeavoured to afford an opportunity to all institutions in the sector to make proposals in response to particular needs e.g. the Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions, additional places in Pharmacy, additional provision in areas recommended by the Expert Skills Group. Not only does this approach in the view of the Authority best guarantee excellence in development, it also gives the best value for money.
4. In this context, we have therefore the deepest misgivings about making a commitment to the UCD proposal, notwithstanding its possible excellence. In this area it would be envisaged a number of institutions would wish to have the opportunity of making a proposal. Instinctively, we feel that a short quick response to this application for £2.5m could end up in tears later as other unforeseen costs begin to emerge, particularly when the Centre becomes operational.
5. We see clearly that there is a case for a Centre of American Studies and we also appreciate its policy and political dimensions. It would, in our opinion, be a much more satisfactory approach for the Government at this stage to make an announcement that it was prepared to make funding available, up to £X, in honour of President Clinton, by inviting proposals from universities for a Centre of American Studies. The Authority would, of course be happy to play a part in any project of this kind.
Yours sincerely,
John Hayden, J.L. Hayden Secretary/Chief Executive