Sir, - I refer to an article in your "From the North West" page on February 2nd with the headline "US College to provide Gaeltacht with first university".
On behalf of Udaras na Gaeltachta I would like the opportunity to clarify a number of points.
The Sacred Heart University of Connecticut has put forward a proposal to locate a Study Abroad Programme at Ballyconnell House, Falcarragh, Co Donegal. It is envisaged that 15 to 20 of the university's students would study there for 15week cycles throughout the year. To imagine Falcarragh becoming "Donegal's first University town" on the strength of such small numbers is somewhat overstating the case.
Should this project proceed the students would originate in the United States, so this Sacred Heart University outreach unit would not be competing directly with existing Irish colleges for students.
At this stage, Udaras na Gaeltachta is engaged in continuing discussions with the Sacred Heart University of Connecticut regarding the terms of reference and general parameters of a research and development proposals in relation to this project. In evaluating the proposal, we will, inter alia, quantify the cost of upgrading that portion of Ballyconnell House deemed suitable for the Study Abroad Programme to establish the costs of the required refurbishment.
If the project were to go ahead it would not be the first third-level course (or indeed not even the first American Study Abroad Programme) to locate in the Gaeltacht.
For example, NUI Galway already has two university outreach centres in the Galway Gaeltacht and plans to develop a third in Donegal. Udaras na Gaeltachta is encouraging interaction and discussion with all Irish third level institutions involved in the Donegal Gaeltacht. Another American University has been running its Study Abroad Programme in the Galway Gaeltacht for a long number of years without any involvement with Udaras na Gaeltachta. - Yours, etc.,
Padraig O hAolain, Deputy Chief Executive, Regional Development, Udaras na Gaeltachta, Na Forbacha, Gaillimh.