Ceisteanna—Questions, Oral Answers. - University Staff-Student Ratios. – Dáil Éireann (19th Dáil) – Thursday, 18 Dec 1969

Dr. FitzGerald

asked the Minister for Education the number of full time university staff in each of the colleges of the National University of Ireland, in each of the categories Professor, Associate Professor, Statutory Lecturer, Assistant I (College Lecturer), Assistant II (Assistant Lecturer), and Assistant III (Assistant), as well as the number of staff in grades with similar salary scales in Trinity College, Dublin, in respect of the years 1938-39, 1948-49, 1958-59, 1963-64 and 1968-69; and the number of full-time students in each of these years, as well as the number of evening degree students.

78.

Dr. FitzGerald

asked the Minister for Education the full-time staff-student ratios for each of the faculties in each of the university colleges for the years 1958-59 to 1968-69.

Mr. Faulkner

I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 77 and 78 together. I am circulating with the Official Report a tabular statement giving the information in relation to student numbers in each of the years concerned. The other information requested by the Deputy is not available in my Department.

Following is the statement:

NUMBERS of full-time and evening degree students attending UCD, UCC, UCG and TCD in 1938-39, 1948-49, 1958-59, 1963-64 and 1968-69.

Year	Full-Time Students	Evening Degree Students
UCD	UCC	UCG	TCD	UCD	UCC	UCG	TCD
1938-39	1,998	853	584	1,543	163	—	—	*
1948-49	2,862	936	762	2,236	99	27	—	*
1958-59	3,767	1,275	915	2,268	451	23	—	*
1963-64	5,740	1,947	1,512	2,886	815	120	—	*
1968-69	7,611	2,926	2,466	3,996	1,458	180	115	8

*The figures relating to evening degree students are not readily available in the case of Trinity College, Dublin.

Dr. Thornley

Why is it not available? A lot of information which Deputy Dr. FitzGerald, Deputy Kavanagh and other Deputies, including myself, have looked for is not available. I know the difficulties in respect of the two grades in the universities but Deputy Dr. FitzGerald specifically refers to similar salaried scales. Does the Minister not think this information should be sought from his Department?

Mr. Faulkner

It is not true to say that the information sought by Deputies has not been made available to them where it is possible for me to do so. I have answered very many questions on statistics where the information is available to me. I simply cannot give information which is not available to me, or when I consider that the amount of time it would take to compile it would be unwarranted.

Dr. Thornley

I am not for one moment disputing the Minister's courtesy in replying to our questions here. I am merely asking the Minister if he does not feel he should seek the statistics. Does he not consider he should extend the boundaries which he seems to have set with regard to the availability of statistics?

Mr. Faulkner

I am not setting boundaries where statistics are available to me. My Department, as I am sure everybody knows, is an overworked one. I think it is unwarranted to ask the officials of my Department to compile statistics which, in one case, would take about 20 of them a fortnight to assemble. The information in relation to students is made available by the universities and my Department and I have given that information now. With regard to the first part of the question, I feel the Deputy should request this information from the universities concerned.

Mr. Desmond

The information requested is for the full-time staff-student ratios for the years 1958-59 to 1968-69 for each faculty in each of the university colleges. In view of the very substantial amount of the taxpayer's money going to the universities, surely the Minister should direct the administrative staffs of the universities to make this information public?

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 18 Dec 1969