Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 3

Written Answers. - Sligo College Appointments.

Declan Bree

Question:

125 Mr. Bree asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that no full-time permanent appointments have been made at St. Angela's College, Sligo, since 1987, resulting in some staff being employed on a temporary basis for almost ten years; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that half of the full-time members of staff at the college are on yearly contracts; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that the Teachers' Union of Ireland has requested her Department to sanction the reintroduction of permanent appointments at the college, and has sought a meeting with the Department to discuss this matter for some considerable time, and in the absence of a response to these requests, the union is currently preparing to take industrial action on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23525/96]

Matt Brennan

Question:

184 Mr. M. Brennan asked the Minister for Education whether she proposes to meet the Teachers' Union of Ireland which has been requesting her Department to sanction the reintroduction of permanent appointments at St. Angela's College, Sligo, for some considerable time; and if so, when. [23224/96]

John Ellis

Question:

197 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Education if she will give sanction to St. Angela's College, Sligo, to make permanent appointments to the staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23276/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 125, 184 and 197 together.

Officials from my Department met representatives of the Teachers' Union of Ireland on Wednesday, 27 November 1996 and explained the matter in full to them. The steering committee on the future development of higher education recommended that a review and analysis of specialist teacher requirements should be pursued jointly between my Department and the Higher Education Authority. In that context, a review group is examining teacher education needs in the second level sector generally, including home economics.

Pending the outcome of this review, it has not been possible to sanction the creation of permanent posts in this case. I also emphasise that Government policy on the limitation of numbers employed in the public service imposes severe constraints on the creation of new posts.