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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 Apr 1938

Vol. 71 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National College of Art.

asked the Minister for Education if posts in the National College of Art as professor and assistant professor of sculpture and professor of design have been filled by non-nationals; whether the Minister is aware that there are artists of standing in this country who are capable of performing the duties attaching to these posts, and whether he is aware that the filling of such posts by non-nationals is detrimental to the development of Irish art.

The answer to the first part of the question is yes. As regards the second part, the selection of persons for appointment to these posts was made by the Civil Service Commission, who investigated the qualifications of the candidates in accordance with their usual procedure. Every facility was given to Irish artists to compete, and, if they did so, their qualifications must not have been considered as good as those of the successful candidates. My reply to the last part of the question is that the appointment of the best qualified candidates to these positions should be beneficial rather than detrimental to the improvement and development of Irish Art.

Would the Minister say if it is a fact that these appointments were advertised, amongst other means, by broadcasting in the various countries throughout the world; would he say whether it is a usual thing when posts of this kind have to be filled in other countries that they are broadcast on the wireless in this country?

That is a separate question.

Were they required to have a competent knowledge of Irish?

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