The Dublin Institute of Technology is a statutory body established under the Dublin Institute of Technology Act 1992. Under that Act the governance and day to day activities of the institute are matters for which the governing body and the management staff of the institute are responsible.
I understand the back-pay referred to by the Deputy arises from the terms of the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001. As far as my Department is concerned, the DIT is legally obliged to implement the terms of that Act.
My Department has recently advised the DIT of its provisional budget allocation for running costs for 2004 and has indicated to the institute that expenditure should be determined in line with Government policy and priorities and in accordance with priority institute pay and non-pay needs.