CARLOW RTC students' union and the town's Chamber of Commerce are to co operate in the formation of a committee to draw up a development plan for the college.

The decision follows criticisms at a recent meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. The meeting heard complaints about the perceived inaction of the college's governing body and students union on the issue of campaigning for Institute of Technology status for the college. In response, the college authorities established an art on committee to campaign for redesignation, but the students union was more cautious.

"I said that, to be realistic Carlow doesn't deserve `IT' status until the `teething' problems are fixed," says Damien Keogh, Carlow RTC students' union president. "We have a library here with 22 students per seat, a lack of computer facilities and 12 `portacabins'."

Since the Chamber of Commerce meeting, members of the chamber have visited the college and the proposal for a joint development plan for the college is now likely to be put forward, with the active support and assistance of the union.