Vol. 314 No. 7
asked the Minister for Education if he will state his policy in relation to the Irish language requirement for appointment of permanent posts (administrative and teaching) in (a) Regional Colleges, (b) National Institute for Higher Education, (c) Universities, (d) Colleges of Universities, (e) St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, and (f) Colleges of Technology and if he will specify the requirements in respect of Irish for each post.
28.
asked the Minister for Education to state the Irish language requirements in respect of all permanent teaching posts in regional technical colleges and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 28 together.
In the case of higher teaching posts in the regional technical colleges and in the colleges of technology a condition of eligibility for appointment is the possession of the Ceard Teastas Gaeilge or a pass in a special oral Irish test conducted by an inspector of the Department of Education. In the case of administrative posts a knowledge of Irish of a standard to the satisfaction of the Department is required.
Appointments to the staffs of the universities, university colleges and St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, are made in accordance with the relevant statutory provisions and the Minister for Education has no function in relation to the specification of the condition on eligibility for such appointments.
The National Institute for Higher Education have not yet been established on a statutory basis. The current practice in relation to the making of appointments to the staffs is that Irish is not specified as a requirement for either administrative or teaching posts except where it is considered essential for a particular post (e.g. a post in the area of Irish studies).
Is the Minister aware that some regional colleges and university colleges are finding it difficult to recruit senior teaching staff because some of the applicants for whole-time permanent posts have not the necessary Irish qualification? Would he consider changing the regulation to allow very highly qualified people to be appointed in a whole-time capacity in such colleges without the relevant Irish qualification as specified in the regulations but be given the opportunity to acquire the required Irish language level within say the subsequent three years? Would he not agree that where specialised posts are concerned at the senior level in RTCs and colleges of technology there is need for more flexibility in the appointment of such staff?
I am not aware of the problem of the colleges in this regard and I have no plans for change but the Deputy may be assured that he will find me very ready to facilitate people who make a study of the Irish language in order to qualify themselves.
Does the Minister not see that where a board of management of a regional technical college have to appoint a person with lower academic qualifications to a whole-time permanent post because he has the Irish qualification a person with a higher qualification and higher academic standing may not in the circumstances of the appointment and in the context of his application be eligible for appointment as a full-time, permanent lecturer?
There is a system, I think, whereby the person who is not fully qualified at the time but indicates that he or she is willing to undertake the necessary Irish studies, may be appointed to a temporary, whole-time post.
I beg to differ.
We cannot get into an argument.
Finally, the position is that where a permanent whole-time post is under consideration a person with the relevant Irish qualification must be appointed, assuming he is suitable, even though his being suitable means that a person more suitable may not get the post which I would consider a most unfortunate position. Would the Minister agree?
Because I am talking hypothetically and without specific individual cases before me I would find it difficult to make any statement but I want to state again that all facilities will be made available to anybody who wishes to qualify——
But the present system is not satisfactory.
Order.
If the Deputy will write to me on the matter I will examine the situation.
