Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Jun 1980

Vol. 321 No. 9

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

21.

asked the Minister for Education the current position concerning the provision of suitable alternative accommodation for the National College of Art and Design in the Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Discussions are taking place between the interested parties with a view to arranging the transfer as from the academic year 1980-81 of the National College of Art and Design from the Kildare Street premises to premises owned by Irish Distillers Ltd. at John's Lane and Bow Street.

The Higher Education Authority have been asked to undertake an appropriate initiative in relation to the provision of permanent accommodation for the college in fully adequate and suitable premises from as early a date as possible.

Can the Minister tell us what stage this has reached? Is it the case that the accommodation in Power's Distillery has neither been leased nor purchased, that it cannot be ready for transfer from Kildare Street by September, that the College of Art and Design will continue for a number of years to be in a number of different sites?

Officials from my Department and the HEA have been in consultation with the distillery people who have indicated that the premises are vacant and are available. I do not think there will be any difficulty. The Deputy asked if it would be available for the 1980-81 academic year. As far as I know it will be.

Is the Minister serious in suggesting that premises in respect of which legal steps have not yet been taken could be not only acquired by lease or purchase but converted from a distillery to a college of art between the beginning of June and the beginning of September? Is that a serious proposition?

It is a serious proposition and I am absolutely confident that the arrangements can be made. It has not been a distillery for some time, as the Deputy knows.

It has not been anything else either. Its conversion from a distillery to its new use in three months would seem to be a Herculean task, nothing short of it.

The Deputy will be aware that a considerable and serious study was done on this project.

How many students were there in the College of Art and Design when the study was carried out and how many are there now?

We have about 1,100 now, full-time students.

How many students were there when the study was carried out and how many are there now? Does the Minister agree that there has been a 60 per cent increase since the feasibility study was carried out?

Possibly.

Does he not therefore consider it to be relevant how many students were there when the study was carried out and whether the number there now can be accommodated in Power's Distillery?

I do not accept that at all.

Does the Minister think it wise not to accept it?

We have had the square footage assessed and we will be able to accommodate the students.

What communications have been sent by the Minister or other members of the Government to the board in relation to this, and what communications has he received from the board and from the students' union?

I do not have a record of the actual correspondence but if the Deputy puts down the question I will give him the details.

I have a question down but owing to the bank holiday it has not appeared on the Order Paper. Possibly it will be on tomorrow's Order Paper.

The Minister is filling the Augean stables, not emptying them.

They are very clean.

Top
Share