St Patrick's College, Maynooth, is the "National Seminary for Ireland", and a Pontifical University, located in the village of Maynooth, 24km from Dublin, Ireland. In 2015–16 there were approximately 80 men studying for the priesthood at Maynooth, 60 resident seminarians and approximately 20 non residents. The college and seminary are often referred to as Maynooth College. The college was officially established as the Royal College of St Patrick by an Act of Grattan's Parliament in 1795. Thomas Pelham, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, introduced his Bill for the foundation of a Catholic college, and this was enacted by Parliament.In 2016, the Irish Independent reported that an unnamed former seminarian had reported alleged sexual touching by a college priest to the college's president and vice-president; the college's "internal complaints panel which investigated his claims did not find any grounds on which to discipline the priest." Although the Irish Independent reported that this former seminarian would soon "file a formal complaint against the priest" connected to the college nothing in fact transpired.Degrees are awarded by the Pontifical University at Maynooth, which was established by a Pontifical Charter of 1896. The Pontifical Charter entitles the university to grant degrees in canon law, philosophy and theology.