andMr. E. Collins asked the Minister for Education if he will make a statement on the procedures involved in the proposed appointment of the post of full-time director of the Teachers' Centre, Drumcondra, Dublin; and if he will make specific reference to the restrictive time-limit set for receipt of applications, and the effect this may have had with regard to receiving only three applications out of a possible 30,000 eligible teachers; and if he will consider readvertising this post, especially in the various teaching journals.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers . - Teachers' Centre (Dublin) Post .
11.
: The appointment of a director for this centre is a matter for the steering committee of the centre, who are required to advertise the post and to have applications reviewed by a selection board consisting of four representatives of the steering committee and two inspectors of my Department. The arrangements in question were, I understand, made by the outgoing committee and have since been reviewed and confirmed by the incoming committee.
: Is the Minister satisfied with the arrangements as outlined in the question, particularly in view of the fact that this very important post is funded fully from public funds? Would he be willing to consider if a review of some of the procedures is desirable before an appointment is made, particularly in view of the fact that only three people applied out of a potential of 30,000 applicants?
: The procedure for appointment is as I outlined. The committee instructed the director to advertise the post in the Dublin morning papers. The advertisement duly appeared. The outgoing board went through the proper procedure. This procedure was confirmed by the incoming board and I see no reason why I should interfere.
: Would the Minister agree that it would have been reasonable, for example, to allow a longer length of time for receipt of applications because the brief period involved tended to favour people who had a particular insight into the fact that the post might have been coming up? Would he further agree that it might have been very desirable to have put advertisements in the professional teaching publications? Is he satisfied with the response to the advertisement?
: I gave my position as Minister with regard to the centre. I would not say it should be a disqualification if somebody knew of the existence of the centre, of its activities or that there was a vacancy about to occur in the directorship.
: I did not for a second suggest that, and it is a bit unfair of the Minister to suggest I did. I asked if it would not be reasonable that the Minister's keen nose would detect that something was wrong where three people applied for a position out of a potential of 30,000 applicants. As the Minister in charge of funding this job he has a statutory responsibility to take a greater interest than he has apparently done in rectifying what may be done or assuring himself——
: Is the Deputy saying there was something wrong about the appointment of director? If so, he should inform me and stop hedging about and talking in circles and hypotheses. If he has information I want to get it.
: May I ask the final supplementary question?
: The Deputy has already had a final supplementary question.
: I have just been asked a question and I would like to answer it.
: The Deputy has already had two "final" supplementary questions.
: May I have a third?
: I will not permit it.