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Education and Training Boards

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 December 2021

Wednesday, 1 December 2021

Questions (136, 137, 138, 139, 140)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

136. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to a project (details supplied) and the fact that an arts programme is now at risk with the recruitment process happening for a new manager and community education facilitator for the centre with no mention of the arts programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59495/21]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

137. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason the job description for the community education facilitator position to manage a centre (details supplied) was advertised without mention of one of the central parts of that person’s and the centre’s work, namely the performing arts programme including the theatre; and the reason no mention was made of the need for it being desirable for an applicant for the post to have appropriate skills in the arts. [59497/21]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

138. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a job description for the community education facilitator position to manage a centre (details supplied) was advertised without taking into account one of the key aspects of the region, the adjacent Gaeltacht region and therefore the need for an applicant for the position to have proficiency in Gaeilge to enable them to communicate with and deliver for the Gaeltacht community. [59499/21]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

139. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Chiarraí has advertised for a manager and facilitator for a centre (details supplied) without specifying that the person appointed would have any responsibility for ensuring an arts programme is provided as set down when the funding of his Department was used to restore the old school in 2006, including the provision of a 99-seat theatre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59501/21]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

140. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason the advertisement for a manager and community education facilitator for a centre (details supplied) left ealaíona pobail nó as Béarla community arts out of the title of the centre; if it was, deliberate as a sign of what is to come; if not, if it was in error; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59503/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 136, 137, 138, 139 and 140 together.

Officials in my Department have been in direct contact with Kerry Education and Training Board (KETB) in relation to this matter and have been informed of the following:

The manager appointed will have responsibility for managing all programmes and activities in the Centre which ‘shall be used exclusively and maintained solely as a centre for arts and for promoting general educational economic and current affairs’ as outlined in the grant agreement with the Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (DTCAGSM) of 2008. As the fields of learning for Further Education and Training includes the fine arts, performing arts etc. and given that the recruitment process is competency based, which includes management and specialist knowledge competencies, further specifying the need for the applicant to have appropriate skills in the arts was not required and thus not included. The advertisement for a Community Education Facilitator to manage the Centre was based on the template advert used by KETB for these positions.

With regard to the names of the KETB FET Campuses and Centres, these were standardized in 2020 and the five Outreach Centres were named as ‘Further Education and Training (FET) Centres’. The non-inclusion of community arts should not be interpreted as a dilution or diminution of the commitment of KETB to the provision of community arts in the Centre. Tech Amergin FET Centre has been identified to continue to be a Centre of Excellence in the Arts.

Indeed, KETB remains fully committed to the continuation and expansion of the arts programmes in the Centre. The Centre has excellent facilities built using funding of around €1million from DTCAGSM in 2008 and that as part of this funding contract, with the then Kerry Education Service, KETB is fully supportive of the full utilization of these facilities for training and education in the arts and provision of the performing arts.

Finally in relation to proficiency in Gaeilge, the Kerry ETB Scéim Teanga 2020-2023 sets out the designate Irish Language Posts for KETB. The Scéim Teanga was approved by the DTCAGSM in 2020. The Tech Amergin manager position is not a designated Irish language post in the Scéim Teanga. Proficiency in Gaeilge is not a requirement for this post. However, KETB remains committed to providing services to the Gaeltacht community as Gaeilge as required.

Question No. 137 answered with Question No. 136.
Question No. 138 answered with Question No. 136.
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