Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 17 Apr 1997

Vol. 477 No. 7

Ceisteanna — Questions. Priority Questions. - Art and Design Education Facilities.

Mary Coughlan

Question:

5 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Education the proposals, if any, she has to upgrade facilities in the art and design education sector, in particular at the National College of Art and Design, Crawford College, Cork, COMAD, Portland Row, Dublin 2, Cluain Mhuire Regional Technical College, Newgate Street, Galway, Waterford Institute of Technology and Limerick School of Art and Design; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that students in these colleges have their safety at risk; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10258/97]

Ms Bhreathnach

As part of the overall strategic capital development programme for the third level sector, proposals for upgrading all teaching facilities, including art and design, are being formulated in consultation with college authorities for implementation on a rolling basis and within the framework of available funding resources. This programme is designed to ensure that students are provided with appropriate and safe working environments.

With regard to the upgrading works relating to the specific institutions referred to by the Deputy, I am pleased to avail of the opportunity to advise that considerable progress has been made in this area. Construction work has recently commenced at a cost of £6 million on the replacement of facilities for the students of the National College of Art and Design at present accommodated at Leinster Lane. This major new development will facilitate the resiting of all the activities of the college onto one campus at Thomas Street.

Cluain Mhuire, a property adjacent to the Galway regional technical college, was acquired by the college authorities with the approval of my Department in September 1995. Planning of upgrading works for the newly acquired property is at an advanced stage and tenders are due to be sought shortly by the college authorities.

Substantial properties were also acquired in 1994 by Waterford and Limerick regional technical colleges. In the case of Limerick, phases I and II of the upgrading works have been already completed. The objective is to house all art and design students on the same campus. Upgrading work has commenced on the Waterford property and further upgrading works are at planning stage. Extensive upgrading works have also been carried out to the Crawford art and design campus of Cork regional technical college and were completed in early 1996.

The position with regard to Dublin Institute of Technology is that officials of my Department are engaged in ongoing consultations with the institute authorities regarding an overall campus development plan, including a broad range of issues relating to the provision of appropriate replacement facilities for students currently accommodated in rented facilities at Mountjoy Square and Portland Row. While I recognise that further upgrading, improvement and replacement works are required I am nevertheless satisfied that, despite the many major problems that I inherited in this area when I became Minister, significant progress has been made at this stage towards providing the colleges with a safe working environment for all the students.

Miss Coughlan

I thank the Minister for her comprehensive reply. Is she aware that difficult situations exist in some of the colleges? Toilet facilities, access to light, studio space, etc., are paramount for the development of art and design in the universities. Will she provide additional funding for the colleges mentioned to deal specifically with the heating, lighting and toilet facilities and the lack of proper and adequate space for the students? While recognising that funding has been made available, has she a further programme to address the provision of many of these basic facilities?

Ms Bhreathnach

In planning the development of this sector there was a need for a very large investment. I thank the Deputy for recognising that an investment has been made in these colleges and in other parts of the university sector. Much has been done and more remains to be done. I referred to the consultation with college authorities regarding the implementation of improvements on a rolling basis and within the framework of available funding resources. It is important that the areas most in need are dealt with first.

With regard to the levels of investment, £6 million is to be allocated to the National College of Art and Design, £500,000 to the college in Cork and £0.8 million to Limerick with regard to the acquisition of the convent. Some £6 million of ERD funding remains for the Portland Row and Aungier Street projects, while £1.55 million will be allocated to the refurbishment of the college at Galway.

Students are doing well at these colleges. They are making a major impact on the education system and afterwards in the employment areas. However, many of them are housed in unsatisfactory conditions, for example at Leinster Lane, which has come to the attention of this House in the past couple of years.

Given the rolling programme and the elimination of substandard places, investment has been extraordinary. Nevertheless, students continue to be housed in unsatisfactory conditions. The budget for each year and the investment by the EU has allowed us to look forward and talk to the authorities to eliminate the conditions that concern the Deputy and me.

Miss Coughlan

Could Exchequer funding be provided, given that EU funding has been provided for the upgrading of these facilities? Is the Minister aware that, for example, the college in Waterford where young people spray with inflammable materials has an asbestos roof sealed with lead paint? There are also rats and other rodents in the college. There is no heating and very little light in Crawford College, Cork. They are serious problems. Another example is the Portland Row college where the toilet facilities are most unhygenic. Every college should have these basic facilities. Will the Minister provide additional funding from the Exchequer specifically to deal with such facilities in colleges to guarantee the health and safety of students? The Minister has a shopping list but I ask her to ensure that additional funding is provided from the Exchequer to address the serious problems relating to basic facilities for young people.

Ms Bhreathnach

I acknowledged the European Union's investment in third level education but I remind Deputies that investment also involves Exchequer funding. The budget provided by the Department of Finance to my Department matches European funding and occasionally works on its own in terms of the development of this sector.

The heavy investment in this sector reflects the conditions under which third level students were expected to operate. I am concerned about matters, such as those mentioned by the Deputy, which suggest the health of students is badly affected. Health and safety legislation is in operation, irrespective of the level of investment by the Department. There is investment by the Department in this area on an ongoing basis. However, I want to be satisfied that increased investment meets the basic needs of students. Although I succeeded in securing an extraordinary increase in the education budget, the Deputies should join me in saying that I need more money.

Mr. Martin

Deputy Coughlan painted a true picture. Her comments were based on a report by USI's education officer. For example, he visited the Portland Row college on 17 January and there was a poster on display which read: "Loose plaster removed for safety reasons, ceiling under repair — management". Somebody had crossed out the word "removed" and scribbled in "fell down". That illustrates the conditions in some art colleges. First year students in Cork do not have a table in their studio and there is no heating or natural light. The beams in the library are warped and unsafe. This area is the poor relation in the third level sector.

Does the Minister accept, in the context of the allocation of the £2.2 billion education budget, that considerable extra resources should be made available to these colleges? Will she confirm that her Department is actively planning for the future in view of the fact that the same level of Structural Funds may not be available after 1999?

Ms Bhreathnach

As I said earlier, I inherited a serious position in this sector.

Miss Coughlan

That was four years ago.

Ms Bhreathnach

I did not plaster the walls in Portland Row. However, I made massive investments over the past four years. The Deputies challenged me in the past about the percentage of European funding devoted to the regional technical college sector. Extra funding must be used to eliminate the position I inherited. I acknowledge the contribution of the European Union but Exchequer funding has allowed me to systematically upgrade facilities. I was in Limerick regional technical college last Friday to open another phase of investment. Given the standard of that development and what is expected of it, the funding from the EU and the Exchequer was well used. Regarding the Deputy's question about the future, I am busy dealing with the present.

Mr. Martin

Does that mean the Minister has no future?