University College Dublin and the future : a memorandum from a research group of Tuairim, Dublin branch, on the report of the Commission on Accommodation Needs of the constituent colleges of the National University of Ireland : with special reference to

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University College Dublin and the future : a memorandum from a research group of Tuairim, Dublin branch, on the report of the Commission on Accommodation Needs of the constituent colleges of the National University of Ireland : with special reference to the proposal to transfer University College, Dublin, to a new site



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Front Cover
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Front Cover

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

DUBLIN

AND THE FUTURE

TUAIRIM 6 PAMPHLET

PRICE: TWO SHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE

Last edit over 1 year ago by MKMcCabe
Front Matter
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Front Matter

Foreword

We all welcome the decision of the Government to provide for the accommodation needs of University College, Dublin. But whether the new College should be built in the City centre or in the suburbs is hotly debated, and raises issues of great importance for the future of higher education in Dublin.

This pamphlet, which is the work of a research group organised by the Dublin Branch of Tuairim, argues that the proposal to move U.C.D. to the Stillorgan Road is undesirable and unnecessary.

As with other Tuairim pamphlets, the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily of Tuairim as a whole.

This pamphlet was originally circulated in stencilled form to members of the Government as well as to educational leaders and other prominent citizens. It attracted considerable attention and was widely accepted as an outstanding contribution towards a solution of the problem with which it deals.

Initially we shrank from the cost of printing the pamphlet, but many of those who read the stencilled copies thought the argument presented so important that they pressed us strongly to give the general public a chance to read it in full. Members of the College staff, graduates and other persons interested in the welfare of the College and the City offered us generous financial support and we decided to go ahead and print.

Tuairim (the name is derived from the Irish word meaning 'opinion') was founded some years ago to encourage young people to formulate, by means of study and discussion, informed opinions on Irish problems, and to influence by means of lectures, writings and speeches, the opinions of the public.

At present Tuairim has eight branches, and others are in the course of formation. The names of secretaries of the existing and the contemplated branches are given on the back cover. Each secretary will be glad to hear from anyone interested in joining the branch in his area.

Anyone interested in buying pamphlets, or in contributing towards the cost of the present or future pamphlets, or in finding out more about the general work of Tuairim should contact the Hon. General Secretary.

13a, Brookville Park, Malahide Road, Coolock, Dublin. Telephone 337670

Donal Barrington President January 1960

L956/1182

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN AND THE FUTURE

A MEMORANDUM FROM A RESEARCH GROUP OF TUAIRIM, DUBLIN BRANCH

on

THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION ON ACCOMMODATION NEEDS OF THE CONSTITUENT COLLEGES OF THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND

With Special Reference to the Proposal to Transfer University College, Dublin, to a New Site

Revised Edition

Last edit over 1 year ago by MKMcCabe
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We have been asked by the Dublin Branch of Tuairim to examine the position of higher education in Ireland, and to make suggestions for the future.

Many broad topics come up for consideration, for example, the suitability of our secondary education system as a basis for university and technological education; the changing functions of the university, with its increased emphasis on professional training; the facts of easy admission to our universities for those who can pay the fees (which are nothing like the real cost), and of little assistance given to those of ability who cannot afford the expense; our present and likely future need for graduates from the various faculties; the present structure of our higher education system--the N.U.I. with its three constituent colleges, Dublin University with one, the College of Surgeons, and the Institutes of Technology in Dublin--and the lack of co-ordination within that system.

These subjects all deserve detailed examination. However, a matter of great urgency has arisen with the publication of the Report of the Commission on Accommodation Needs of the Constituent Colleges of the National University of Ireland. We are publishing this Memorandum to bring our views on some aspects of the first chapter of that Report to the attention of the public.

Criticism has already been levelled against those who did not give evidence to the Commission but now question its findings. In reply to this, we point out that the detailed facts on U.C.D. accommodation needs were not available to the public, and even a member of the Governing Body of U.C.D. claims not to have been fully informed (Attachment II to Chapter I of the Report). Without these facts informed submissions on the U.C.D. accommodation question could not have been made. The Commission has performed a valuable function in obtaining the facts, and the public is now for the first time in a position to review the situation. It is a pity that the chapter on U.C.D. (which was presented to the Government a year before the final Report was published) was not made public immediately, so that submissions could have been made before the Commission completed its study.

The present text is a revised version of our earlier stencilled Memorandum.

We wish to thank the many people with specialised knowledge of the subjects with which we deal who gave us great assistance, and to thank those who generously subscribed to the cost of printing.

The views expressed in this Memorandum are our own and not necessarily those of the Dublin Branch of Tuairim or of its members.

Signed,

HAROLD CLARKE, B.A. ELIZABETH HEALY RONAN KEANE, B.A., Barrister-at-Law JOSEPH McCULLOUGH, B.E., A.M.I.C.E.I. HENRY McERLEAN, B.A., B.Sc. PATRICK T. MOORE, M.Sc., Ph.D. MARY O'REILLY, B.Arch. FRANKLIN J. O'SULLIVAN, B.C.L., LL.B. FRANK WINDER, M.Sc. (Group Chairman) 37 Park Drive, Rathmines DECEMBER, 1959.

Last edit over 1 year ago by MKMcCabe
Pages 2 & 3
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Pages 2 & 3

'To enquire into the accommodation needs of the constituent colleges of the National University of Ireland and to advise as to how, in the present circumstances, these needs could best be met.' (Terms of Appointment of the Government Commission)

'. . . . It would be their task to examine the problems objectively and to relate them to the national need.' (From the speech of the Minister for Education at the first meeting of the Commission, 15.10.1957)

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

I. THE COMMISSION AND ITS REPORT 6 Narrow View of Terms of Reference Haste in Deliberation

II. DUBLIN'S UNIVERSITY AREA 7 Advantages as a University Site Misleading Comparisons The Cultural and Education Complex Government Offices Comprehensive Plan Needed Mr. de Valera's Views

III. PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN THE PROPOSED MOVE OF U.C.D. A. The Effects on the Various Faculties 12 B. The Problem of the Medical School 15 C. The College and the Community 17 D. The Cost of U.C.D. Expansion 20 1. The Capital Cost, Including Cost of Equipment 2. Provision of Staff Increase 3. Increased Running Costs 4. Need for Economy E. The Other Institution of Higher Education in Dublin 27 1. The Institutes of Technology 2. The Institute for Advanced Studies 3. Trinity College, Dublin

IV. U.C.D. ACCOMMODATION NEEDS A. Space and Consequent Site Requirements 35 B. Criticism of the Commission's Standards 38 1. Use of the 'Rule of Thumb' 2. Attitude to Building Heights 3. Types of University Layout 4. Attitude to Compulsory Purchase

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Pages 4 & 5 - Introduction
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Pages 4 & 5 - Introduction

V. A STUDY OF ADJACENT SITES Page A. The Commission's Rejection of Adjacent Sites 44 B. A Reconsideration of these and other Adjacent Sites 45 C. Long-term Expansion 48

VI. SUGGESTIONS TOWARDS A SOLUTION ON PRESENT AND ADJACENT SITES 51

SUMMARY AND GENERAL CONCLUSIONS 54

POSTSCRIPT 57

APPENDICES A. A Note on the College's Efforts to Expand 60 B. Comments on the Views of the College Authorities on the Science Buildings, Merrion Street 61 C. A Note on Alternative Uses for the Stillorgan Road Estates 62 D. A List of Cultural, Educational, and Professional Bodies, Schools and Hostels in the General University Area 64 E. A List of Government and Semi-State Offices in the Area 65 F. Details of the Harcourt Street Station Site 66 G. Sir Eric Ashby's Comments on 'Inefficient Utilisation of Plant' 67 H. Leading Article from 'The Irish Independent' 68 I. An Article from 'Irish Builder and Engineer' 70 J. Some other Views: (i) An Article from 'The Tablet', 72 (ii) Professor Stanford's Views 73 MAP: The Vicinity of Earlsfort Terrace

INTRODUCTION

The essential thesis presented in regard to U.C.D. by the Report of the Commission on Accommodation Needs of the Constituent Colleges of the National University of Ireland is that, while it is desirable to seek a solution for the urgent accommodation needs of the College by expansion from the present sites, such a solution is impracticable.

We accept the basic fact that U.C.D.'s accommodation needs are urgent and must be met without delay. We differ emphatically from the Commission in its belief that those needs cannot be met except by moving to Stillorgan Road.

The cost of a complete new College must be borne in mind, but this is not the only factor involved; we believe and hope to establish, that the move would have grave consequences, both for the College and for the City. The future of higher education in Dublin would be radically affected and the cultural and educational centre of the Capital would be disintegrated.

The Commission by devoting its attention primarily and almost entirely to matters of space and sites, and by not fully investigating all the other very important factors involved, recommended a move to the suburbs. Having done that, it did not even thne fully consider and give due weight to all the consequences of the proposal.

We are convinced that the Commission is in fact wrong in its belief that expansion is impracticable from the present sites: it follows that the decision to move to the Stillorgan Road must be considered in the light of the consequences to which we have referred.

In short, the Stillorgan Road project is, in our view, both unnecessary and undesirable.

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