asked the Minister for Education if she will conduct an investigation into the running of the evening course in art education by the National College of Art and Design, in view of the following points; (a) of the 20 students who were accepted into the course in 1980, there were no successful candidates at the end of the prescribed four year period; (b) at the beginning of the final year the head of the faculty of education and the evening education course co-ordinator both resigned, resulting in almost no tuition being given in the first term; and (c) the students were left in a condemned building with practically no facilities; if she intends to take any measures to make amends to the students who believe that they have been most unfairly treated; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - NCAD Degree Course.
The National College of Art and Design is a body set up by statute. Its statutory functions include that of establishing and carrying on schemes of education of such scope and extent as it may determine in art, crafts and design. The matters referred to in the Deputy's question are therefore essentially for the board of the college. I am however informed, in relation to points made in the question, (a) that the degree course in question is of five years duration, part-time (evening), followed by one year full time and that one student graduated in 1985 with a diploma in art and design education, a second is currently in stream and the remainder either withdrew or are currently under discussion; (b) that, while the head of faculty and evening course co-ordinator did resign, an acting head of faculty was appointed; (c) the Kildare Street premises in which the course was accommodated is not a condemned building.
As indicated in reply to Question No. 137 of 13 November, I have already conveyed to the board of the college my great concern about developments in the Faculty of Art and Design Education. I am assured that the board are undertaking a fundamental review of the situation and I await the outcome of this review.