Madam, – The major social and economic engine of Cork city prosperity and employment had ceased for the last four months. It has just restarted.
The engine I refer to is University College Cork, Cork Institute of Technology and other third level colleges.
Ireland has now more than 400,000 unemployed people. There is a huge window of opportunity. We could almost double the number of third-level students who could use and benefit from the existing stock of buildings and facilities by changing the university and third-level colleges to start in June and end in December, with another academic year starting in January and ending in May. This would mean two academic years in each calendar year, using the existing buildings and facilities of these third-level colleges.
Ireland’s extreme economic difficulties need new solutions. We have to think outside the box and we need to be brave if we are to survive and prosper as a nation.
Education and development are crucial, new degree courses and retraining for the unemployed would help Ireland greatly.
Under this proposal many new lecture positions would become available – a large proportion of the cost could be recouped by receipt of fees from foreign students. Could I propose that a cross-party (ways and means) group – be appointed by the Government to this end.
I hope Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe and the rest of Government, along with the Opposition, will seek this goal for the future success, happiness and prosperity of Cork and hopefully other university cities and towns with third-level facilities. – Yours, etc,