THE protest by students at the Cork Regional Technical College widened yesterday with the business community in the city backing the call for an upgrading of the college to an Institute of Technology, similar to the status granted Waterford RTC last weekend. The governing body of the college will meet in emergency session today.
It is now clear that the decision to grant such status to the Waterford RTC, while ignoring the claims of the Cork college going back as far as the 1970s, will become a major issue in Cork when the general election is called.
The level of support for the students action in boycotting their lectures until the college has been upgraded has underlined the extent of anger at the Minister's decision. Already the Teachers' Union of Ireland in the college which represents 500 members has thrown its full weight behind the protest, and today the union will meet to consider industrial action. A decision in favour would escalate the protest and force closure of the college.
Yesterday management at the college, led by its director, Mr Pat Kelleher, met Cork members of the Oireachtas in the Dail, to press their case. The Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, chaired one meeting and pledged subsequently that he would commit Fianna Fail to the Cork RTC's campaign for upgrading.
Following the meeting, the Fianna Fail spokesman on education, Mr Micheal Martin, said the Cork delegation had put a powerful case, outlining the educational achievements of the college - "and for that reason alone, we believe it should be upgraded. My view is that this is a political decision and it most certainly will become an election issue if it is not resolved before the next election," he said.
The Department of Education offered to make officials available to Mr Kelleher and his team during the visit to the Dail, but this was rejected. Mr Kelleher said the only appropriate response would be for the Minister for Education, Ms Breathnach, to meet the college authorities and listen personally to their concerns.
The Minister of State at the Department of Tourism and Trade, Mr Toddy O'Sullivan, also met the delegation and agreed to promote Cork RTC's claim for upgrading.
The leader of the Progressive Democrats, Ms Mary Harney, also gave her party's support to the campaign.
A significant move on the second day of the protest was the intervention of the Cork Chamber of Commerce, representing the voice of the business community in Cork. Mr Bill Cuddy, spokesman for the chamber, said it appeared that the Cork RTC was being "relegated to the second division" and this was not acceptable. As well as the standards of excellence which it had achieved, the RTA's a significant contributor to the local economy, with an annual budget of £20 million.
Raving met the delegation yesterday afternoon, the Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Mr Bernard Allen, agreed to put the RTC's case to the Minister for Education at a specially convened meeting last night. The meeting was also attended by Mr, O'Sullivan and Mr Hugh Coveney the Minister of State at the Department of Finance.
Mr Allen said later the three Cork TDs had been well received by the Minister. However, the president of the Students Unions at the RTC, Mr Matty O'Callaghan, said that nothing less than full institute status would satisfy the student body.
. The Teachers' Union of Ireland has commended the Minister for Education for upgrading Waterford RTC to an Institute of Technology, but has pressed her, quickly to upgrade other larger RTCs, including Cork, to the same status.