I tabled a Question, No. 78, on 30th November with regard to the filling of a most important position in Limerick Technical Institute and I am not satisfied with the answer I received, particularly when the Minister said: "It came to me in writing, through the official channels, as a unanimous decision."
As a public representative, I have grave responsibilities to my constituents in the city and county of Limerick. Much public attention has been attracted as a result of the Minister's action in this case. The position of principal teacher in a technical institute never existed before in Limerick. It is a position second to that of chief executive officer. When this position was first mooted, it was recommended, according to the official minute of the committee, that it be incorporated on the agenda for the September meeting. When the recommendation was put on the agenda on that occasion the committee proceeded to fill the position without, in the first place, consulting the Department of Education. It was stated and decided at that committee meeting:
The Chairman expressed the view that the procedure being adopted might have repercussions among the staff. He referred to the seniority of service of Mr. John Hersey who had similar status of Graded Teacher as Mr. Clancy.
In reply to queries regarding grading of teachers the C.E.O. said that the Senior Teachers had Grade II status. Promotion beyond this consisted of Grade I Vice-Principal and Principal—depending on the size of the institutes and Schools and the administrative responsibilities involved.
After further discussion: the proposition to appoint Mr. Clancy as Principal of the Municipal Technical Institute was adopted. nem. con.”
I have an authority here which disproves the Minister's statement that this appointment was unanimous, and I want to quote him, Sir Walter Citrine. He says that nem. con. means “no one contradicting”. In debate, it means “carried without a count” and not “carried unanimously”. These matters were pointed out to the Minister and the Department of Education. Previously they had received a protest from the organisation of teachers involved because of the principle adopted. Notwithstanding these things, the Minister wrote to the Committee:
I am to refer to your Committee's minutes of the 27th September, 1961, and to the unanimous decision of the Committee therein recorded to appoint Mr. Clancy to the post of Principal of the Municipal Technical Institute, Limerick. The normal procedure in this case would have been that your committee should first have furnished evidence that the creation of a post of Principal was warranted and, should the creation of the post have been approved, applications should have been invited either from teachers already in the service of the Committee or by public advertisement.
Consideration has been given to the need for this new post. Because of the burden of his general duties it is considered that the C.E.O. should be relieved of the responsibility of the duties of Principal of the Technical Institute. Some difficulty, however, arises from the fact that the Committee's present plans will mean a substantial change in the educational activities of the Technical Institute and later developments in the Committee's plans may result in further changes. The present, therefore, does not appear to be the most suitable time to make a fundamental change in the administration of the Technical Institute. However, after giving the fullest consideration to this matter and to the fact that it was the unanimous wish of the Committee to make this appointment, the Department decided to sanction the appointment of Mr. Clancy as Principal of the Technical Institute. In addition to his duties as Principal, Mr. Clancy will also be responsible for the Building Trades Department of the Institute.el
The salary scale will be as follows : £1,123 to £1,468 per annum.
This is a greater salary than the C.E.O. himself receives. I put it to the House that our responsibilities to our constituents, particularly to the students and teachers of Limerick, deserve greater consideration than the Minister has shown in this case. He has flouted all the rules and regulations relating to such an important post. He has refused to recognise the wishes of the organisation of all the teachers concerned and we have in that Institute in Limerick four or five men qualified —some better qualified than the man appointed—to fill this important post. The matter was put on the agenda for discussion and as a result of the discussion, the appointment was made without giving anybody an opportunity of knowing that this principalship was being created or an opportunity of applying for it. I want to air this grave action on the part of the Department of Education which approached this matter in a completely irresponsible way. The blame must lie on the Department which has acted irresponsibly——
