asked the Minister for Education if he will state in respect of technicians in the College of Technology, Kevin Street, Dublin, (a) their number each year for the last four years, (b) how many of them resigned this year and (c) if the appointment of additional technicians has been refused; and, if so, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - College of Technology Posts.
14.
(a) The number of technician posts—of all ranks—for which financial provision was made by the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee, with official sanction, in the last four years was:
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1967-68,23; |
1968-69,22; |
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1969-70,21; |
1970-71,21. |
(b) During the current school year four technicians resigned their posts.
(c) The Department has not refused to allow the appointment of additional technicians. In fact, sanction was given on 21st May, 1971, for the employment of 12 extra technicians in the college without prejudice to any arrangement which might be made in the future in regard to technician staff.
Will the Minister not agree that the reason the strike took place on the 27th May was that the teachers are trying to do the work of the technicians for the past few months? Surely the Minister is aware, even according to the figures he has given us, that there has been a reduction of technicians over the last four years while there has been a huge increase in the number of pupils?
I have given permission for an increase in the number.
You may have given permission now. It is a bit late in the day but it is better late than never.
There was much more involved than what the Deputy has stated. The employment of technicians in the College of Technology, Kevin Street, is a matter, first of all, for the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee. In any case, as I have pointed out, we have, without prejudice to any arrangements which might be made in the future regarding technician staff, sanctioned a number of new appointments.
Is it not true to say that the strike was due to the fact that the teachers were doing the work which the technicians would have been doing during the past few years?
There was much more than that involved.
Was that not the principal reason?
It was not.
The Minister may not believe it was but it is quite true it was.