asked the Minister for Education the present position in regard to the establishment if an independent governing body for the National College of Art.
31.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National College of Art.
30.
asked the Minister for Education if he will make a statement about his plans for the future administration of the National College of Art.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 31 together.
Draft heads of a Bill for the establishment of an autonomous body to administer the National College of Art and Design have been prepared. I intend to submit the matter to the Government in the near future.
Could the Minister be a little more specific about what "the near future" is because this dispute has dragged on for nearly two years now?
I do not know exactly what the Deputy wants but, if it is in reference to the council, I can tell him that there will be representatives of students and teachers and other interests on the council.
Does the Minister expect to have this passed before the recess?
I cannot say that.
Or before the dissolution?
Can the Minister say whether he has taken any action to deal with the current dispute in the National College of Art which arises out of prolonged neglect in arranging for a governing body of this kind?
My attitude towards the students is to treat them as mature people who have a point of view to express and who have a contribution to make in education. I have met representatives of the Union of Students in Ireland on a number of occasions and I have had very fruitful discussions with them. During these discussions, while they put their case to me in a very forceful fashion, they were fully prepared to engage in reasoned argument. I can say, therefore, that because of this attitude on my part, it can be accepted that I did not take lightly the action which I have taken in regard to the National College of Art.
It was only when I discovered that damage had been done to the college premises that I decided it was necessary to take action against those who had engaged in the "sit-in". The first step I took was to ask the students who "sat-in" to leave, and this they did. It was only then I discovered that the damage done to the college premises was estimated at a cost of £500 and that about £700 worth of equipment and materials were taken from the college. I think the House will agree that such conduct cannot be condoned.
I would hope that no one in this House or outside it would claim that, simply because individuals happen to be students, they have some special licence which puts them outside the law. The question then arose of what disciplinary action I should take in regard to this and particularly in regard to those who were the leaders of this matter and, as a result, I asked them to appear before this inquiry. I felt this was the proper thing to do because the students are entitled to be heard before any action is taken in relation to them.
I think that if the students were here they might dispute some of the facts the Minister has given to us but, leaving that aside, could I ask the Minister does he not feel that, if he is going to make these sweeping changes in the very near future to remove the grievances of the students, it would be an appropriate gesture of goodwill to lift these suspensions?
I am afraid I have to wait until after the inquiry takes place before making a decision. I would also say that there is no SRC in this college as the Deputy is probably aware and, if there were a properly constituted SRC in the college, I would not have any objection to representatives of that council and representatives of the teachers having discussions with my Department.