asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that there is no student representative on the board of the NCEA since the dismissal of the President of the Students Union at the NIHE, Limerick in July 1981; and if he will take steps to appoint a student to the board without delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - NCEA Board.
12.
The President of the Students' Union, NIHE, Limerick, was appointed a member of the National Council for Educational Awards for the period of one year ending on 29 July 1981. There was, therefore, no question of dismissal involved in his ceasing to be a member on that date. The President of the Students' Union, NIHE Limerick, did not attend meetings of the NCEA during his period of office because of a decision of the USI that the student movement nationally should have representation on the council. The National Council for Educational Awards Act, 1979, does not confer any such right on the USI. The reference in section 5 (1) (g) is to persons who `are students at any institution to which this Act applies'. I am at present considering representations made to me at a recent meeting with a delegation from the USI during the course of which this matter was discussed.
Would the Minister not agree that it is desirable that there should be student representation on this board, particularly in view of the fact that the students involved were not aware until some weeks ago of the decision of the board of the NCEA to increase examination fees by over 200 per cent?
Yes, I would agree with the Deputy that it is desirable that there should be student representation on the board of the NCEA. The 1979 Act provides for the appointment of persons who are students at any of the institutions which the Act covers, but I understand from correspondence over a period and from a recent meeting with the USI that they, the USI, seek to be represented on a national basis. I understand that the intention of the previous Government was that the student representation on the NCEA should be on a yearly basis and that it should rotate between the various institutions covered by the NCEA Act. When the President of the Students' Union, NIHE, Limerick was appointed last year he did not attend at the NCEA because the USI disagreed with the approach in the Act. Since July the USI have been in touch with me and I have had discussions with them. I am considering their suggestions regarding changes in regard to student representation on the board.
Is the Minister aware that the President of the Students' Union of the NIHE, Limerick since last June is quite willing to take his place on the board but that he got a letter of dismissal from the Minister telling him that he could not attend after 29 July?
I am not so aware. The President of the Students' Union in Limerick was appointed a member of the board of the NCEA for a period which ended on 29 July. The period automatically expired in accordance with a decision taken by the previous Government.
Why did the Minister not renew the appointment, particularly when the new president who came into office in June was willing and anxious to serve on the board of the NCEA?
I was given no such indication. The information given to me was that the USI had arranged that their members should not serve on the board of the NCEA because of their dispute on the manner in which it had been decided in 1979 to have student representation on the NCEA board. If the President of the Students' Union of the NIHE, Limerick is prepared to attend meetings of the NCEA I will be very anxious to hear from him to that effect.
I will get him to write to the Minister. The letter he received from the Department dated 20 July was, to say the least, rather curt. It was addressed to the President for the time being, Students' Union, National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick.
The Deputy is not entitled to read the letter.
Could I place it in the Library?
Lay it before the House.
I imagine that wording was used because the same wording was used by my predecessor when he appointed him.
Students are people. This whole problem is brought to a head by the question of the recent increase in examination fees from £36 to £95 by the NCEA. Does the Minister consider that this level of increase is equitable or will he take steps to bring down the figure to some more reasonable level?
This does not arise on Question No. 12. If the Deputy cares to put down a question on the matter I will be happy to answer it.
The Deputy has put down two questions to that effect and has been informed that the Minister declines to answer them.
I would never decline to answer any question in the House.
I submitted two questions and they were disallowed on the grounds that the Minister allegedly was not responsible.
I have no control over the Questions Office.
The Minister has an opportunity to answer the question. He is in control of the situation now.
I think the Ceann Comhairle is in control of the situation.
The Ceann Comhairle has allowed the supplementary.
A Cheann Comhairle, what question are we on?
I have no information in my brief in regard to that matter and I was given no indication whatever that the Deputy intended to pose this question as a result of a question regarding the appointment or otherwise of a representative of Limerick students to the board of the NCEA.
Would the Minister like to comment on the increase some weeks ago from £36 to £95?
That does not arise on this question.