Regional Technical College

A Regional Technical College (RTC) is a type of college in Ireland now replaced by an Institute of Technology (IOT). The idea of the institutions was first announced by Patrick Hillery in 1963. A year later, a site for an institution in Carlow was identified. The Investment in Education (1962) and Training of Technicians in Ireland (1964) reports greatly accelerated the trend in Ireland for education reform and development particularly in technical education, similar to that in other Western Countries at the time. The Steering Committee on Technical Education, also called The Mulcahy Report (1967), was an important milestone in framing the institutional structures and functions.

Creation

The first institutions formally opened their doors in 1970, and other colleges were added during the following decade. Some colleges developed from earlier institutions and colleges, involving amalgamation, but most were completely new institutions. A Regional Technical College for Limerick was cancelled after a National Institute for Higher Education was announced for the city. Finally, in 1993, an institution was created for Limerick. Two additional institutions have been created since, bringing the total to thirteen.

Related Topics:
1970 - National Institute for Higher Education

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The institutions and their year of establishment:

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• First (1970) - Athlone, Carlow, Dundalk, Sligo, Waterford
• Later - Letterkenny (1971), Galway-Mayo (1972), Cork (1974), Tralee (1977)
• Recent - Tallaght (1992), Limerick (1993), Dún Laoghaire (1997), Blanchardstown (2000).