The difficulty Regional Technical College, Tallaght has experienced this year in staffing the evening courses in computing is due to staff recruitment problems combined with some non-availability of existing staff for evening courses. The problem has been exacerbated by a recent union ban on overtime by college lecturers. Additional staff posts have been sanctioned by my Department in order to alleviate the problem.
College management had advised my Department that in an effort to alleviate the problems for students places have been provided on full-time day courses for whose who can avail of this arrangement. Arrangements have been made for other students to take some modules of their course so that they may continue with their studies during 1997-98. The college is also continuing its efforts to recruit additional staff and interviews for staff are being held this week.