asked the Minister for Education if he will state the staff student ratios in the various colleges of the National University of Ireland; the sums paid to University College, Galway, to enable it to discharge its duties to the Irish language as outlined in its charter; and whether he intends to make a special sum available to enable the college to initiate its building programme and sustain its recently extended educational programme in the West of Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National University of Ireland.
35.
The present full-time staff-student ratios in the colleges of the National University of Ireland are as follows:
University College, Dublin—1:19
University College, Cork—1:18
University College, Galway—1:18
The annual grant-in-aid for University College, Galway, is made by way of total provision and no assessment is made as to what portion of it is devoted to any one aspect of the college's activities. I am accordingly not in a position to furnish the information sought in the second part of the Deputy's question. As regards the third part the position is that provision is made according as the necessity for it arises. For instance, a capital provision of £400,000 has been made in the current financial year as part of the cost involved in providing a new science building.
Is the Minister aware that in the faculty of commerce in UCD the staff ratio is 1:60; in the faculty of arts, it is 1:30 but that in the faculty of veterinary medicine it is 1:5, that is one head of staff for each five students, and in the faculty of agriculture, the ratio is 1:6? Is he aware of this gross discrepancy?
I have given the overall figures as requested.
I shall ask the Minister for details by way of question on the next day on which the House is sitting.