THE Advanced Technology College in Merrion Square, Dublin, which closed on Wednesday, did not come under the aegis of the Department of Education, the Dail was told.

The Minister of State for Social Welfare, Mr Bernard Durkan, for the Minister for Education said the college was a private commercial college and not in receipt of Exchequer funding.

He said the Minister had established and published a code of standards for the approval of colleges for the purposes of tax relief. The college was not included, so the Minister had no role or responsibility relating to it.

Mr Durkan was replying, on the adjournment, to the PD spokeswoman on education, Ms Helen Keogh.