asked the Minister for Education the courses which are being discontinued or phased out in the current academic year at the National College of Art and Design, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
19.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National College of Art and Design.
18.
asked the Minister for Education the number and grades of non-nationals employed by the National College of Art and Design, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
20.
asked the Minister for Education the number, grades and methods of appointment of the teaching and administrative staff at the National College of Art and Design, Dublin.
21.
asked the Minister for Education the manner in which funds are allocated to the National College of Art and Design, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
22.
asked the Minister for Education if he will make a statement on the system of appointments at the National College of Art and Design, Dublin.
23.
asked the Minister for Education if he will make a general statement on the management structure of the National College of Art and Design, Dublin.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 to 23, inclusive, together.
The Minister has decided to take a number of questions together and these questions cover a wide area of interest and relate to different aspects of the administration of the National College of Art and Design.
We cannot have a speech on this question.
I want to protest——
You have already done so.
The Minister is entitled to take the questions together.
If the Deputy listens to my reply his anger will dissolve in appreciation.
The National College of Art and Design operates in accordance with the provisions of the National College of Art and Design Act, 1971. It is also a designated institution for the purpose of the Higher Education Act, 1971.
Appointments of staff are governed by section 17 of the National College of Art and Design Act.
The grades of staff are related to the requirements of the college as determined from time to time. The number of grades at present is as follows: teaching staff, 5; administrative staff, 3.
It would not be in accordance with normal procedure to identify the staff or the institution by reference to categories of non-national and national.
Grants to the College of Art and Design are made available by way of a Grant-in-Aid to the Higher Education Authority in accordance with the provisions of Article 12 of the Higher Education Act, 1971.
I am informed that no full-time courses have been discontinued in the present academic year and that no suspension of any one such course is being contemplated. Certain adjustments have been made in the arrangements for extra-mural part-time courses. Decisions in relation to such adjustments come within the general functions of Bord an Choláiste Náisiúnta is Deartha as set out in section (5) of the Act.
Is the Minister aware that there is discontent among the staff of the college and that there was expenditure in excess of the money allocated to the college? Is the Minister further aware that the appointment of certain lecturers——
I did not hear the Deputy.
Is the Minister aware that the method of appointment of certain lecturers has caused concern among the staff? Can I take it that the Minister, like Pontius Pilate, will call for a bowl of water and wash his hands of the whole affair?
I would prefer to be more punch than Pilate in this regard. I did not know there was discontent among the staff of the college. I knew there was overexpenditure at one stage because a predecessor of mine, now Commissioner Burke of the EEC, read the riot act to the College of Art about spending money which they were not entitled to spend. I did not know there was another overexpenditure. I will investigate the matter for the Deputy. With reference to the method of appointment, I have outlined the responsibility for it in my answer. It is governed by section 17 of the National College of Art and Design Act.
Could the Minister elaborate on his statement that there are only five academic staff in the college?
Teaching staff?
Yes.
There is no way in which I can elaborate on a statement like that.
Does the Minister think that is enough?
I was not asked that question.
Does the Minister retain the power to sanction the appointment of staff?
I have a long note on the subject, if the Deputy would like to hear it.
Yes, I would.
I quote the procedure for the selection of wholetime officers:
Wholetime officers shall be appointed by the Board only to posts sanction for which has already been obtained in accordance with the provisions of the Act and only when the Board is satisfied that its resources are such as to enable it to maintain the appointment.
Every vacancy for a wholetime position as an officer of the Board shall be advertised in the public press except in cases where the prior approval of the Minister for Education to the waiving of this requirement has been received. This approval will be given only in special circumstances.
Each applicant for wholetime appointment will be supplied with copies of Terms of Appointment and Conditions of Service, approved in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
The Terms of Appointment shall set out the age limits and the qualifications and experience required, and also the requirements relating to provisions of birth certificates, medical reports and character references.
Each appointment of a wholetime officer shall be subject to the submission by the appointee at his own expense of (a) satisfactory evidence of age, i.e. a certified extract from the public register of births, (b) a satisfactory medical report, from a doctor nominated by the board and on a form similar to the attached, (c) satisfactory testimonials of character from two responsible persons, other than relatives, personally known to him, (d) satisfactory evidence of the qualifications and experience required.
Selection: The board will establish a selection committee, under section 21 of the Act, of at least three named members, not including student and academic staff members. All applications for wholetime posts will be acknowledged and will be considered by this committee, assisted by such advisers as the committee may desire. The committee assisted by advisers as it deems necessary, will conduct interviews and conduct or have conducted such tests as it considers desirable, and shall select the candidate it considers most suitable from among those who satisfy the terms of appointment.
All appointments of wholetime officers shall be subject to the signing of approved conditions of service.
Does that help the Deputy?
It may help me but I doubt if it will help the Minister. Is the Minister aware that a person who is appointed to a teaching post did not apply for such a post in the first place?
The Minister is totally ignorant of what the Deputy has said and would be pleased if the Deputy would write to him and let him know what he is talking about.
The Minister does not know what is going on in his Department.
The Minister should acquaint himself with the present administrative circumstances of the National College of Art and Design.