Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 April 2012
60 Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on figures released recently by the Teachers’ Union of Ireland that show an 18% increase in student numbers between 2008 and 2011 in institutes of technology at a time when lecturing staff numbers have decreased by 6.7% over the same period with a further cut of 2% demanded for 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19506/12]
View answerThe HEA has advised that between 2008 and 2011 full-time student numbers increased by 12.5% while core staffing numbers have decreased by 9.5% in the Institute of Technology sector. However the economic circumstances of the country are such that the staffing moratorium introduced across the public sector by the previous Government in 2009 has to be maintained. In contrast to other parts of the public service the higher education sector has been given significant latitude within this moratorium relative to other areas of public expenditure. An Employment Control Framework is in place for the higher education sector which provides institutions with considerable flexibility to fill vacancies, through recruitment or promotions on the basis of meeting an overall ceiling of posts.
