No decision has been made on capping student numbers in third-level colleges, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said.
“There have been no decisions made in respect of the Department of Education, or any other department yet, by the Government,” he told the Dáil.
The Irish Times reported yesterday that a report commissioned by Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn had concluded that the introduction of a cap might be necessary as third-level colleges struggled to cope with a deepening funding crisis.
Mr Kenny said the student population would increase by 10 per cent for the foreseeable future and that meant having trained people to teach them.
He was replying to Independent TD Finian McGrath, who asked why a cap on third-level numbers was being introduced.
“Is that information correct?” asked Mr McGrath.
If it were true, he said, millions were being spent on teacher-training colleges preparing their graduates for emigration.