THE Government had made "a fundamental strategic mistake" in the past five years in not placing third level education at the centre of economic planning, Fianna Fail's education spokesman, Mr Micheal Martin, has said.
He criticised the Government's recent "panic announcement"
promising to produce 1,500 computer software and electronics graduates by 12 month conversion courses, which he said had been made without consultation with the heads of the universities and third level colleges.
Mr Martin was introducing a Fianna Fail policy document on third level education at the Union of Students in Ireland club in Dublin yesterday.
He said a Fianna Fail government would "refocus" third level education to emphasise its role in attracting investment by producing people with brains and skills to use new technologies".
To prevent communication problems between government, industry and higher education, a Fianna Fail government would establish a forum to bring third- level institutions and the Higher Education Authority closer together with job creation agencies like the IDA, Forbairt and Forfas.
Mr Martin promised three initiatives from a Fianna Fail government: an increase in the number of high technology and language courses: an increase in research funding through a combination of new expenditure and wide ranging tax relief on donations to research and related areas: and a five year programme to tackle the universities research and equipment deficiencies.
He said a Fianna Fail government would spend an extra £10 million on third level research in its first two years. It would set up a humanities and social sciences research council to advise the Minister in these areas.
It would also spend £11 million in its first budget to provide maintenance grants for Post Leaving Cert courses, which the Department of Education estimates will he catering for 20,000 students by next year.
Mr Martin also estimated that a Fianna Fail government would spend about £5 million in its first two to three years to help part time. mature and second chance" students. This programme would include measures like tax reliefs, permitting part time students to qualify for means tested grants, establishing scholarships to assist students from disadvantaged areas, and introducing higher grants for mature students from poor backgrounds, with particular emphasis on women and carers.
Mr Martin promised a gradual increase in grants, plus a rise in the qualifying income limits, an independent appeals procedure for unsuccessful applicants and, marginal relief for those just over the income cut off level.