Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Dec 2000

Vol. 527 No. 3

Written Answers. - Departmental Funding.

John Perry

Ceist:

368 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason he is not supporting the members of staff at St. Angela's College, Sligo, where his Department refuses to recognise any courses other than the Bachelor of Education degree, where the staff continue to work and support the Bachelor of Arts degree through UCG and the three nursing diploma-degree courses as well as several post-graduate courses which are run in the college; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28244/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

St. Angela's College, Lough Gill, Sligo, is a private institution owned by the Ursuline Order. It is one of two colleges which is recognised by my Department for providing a four year home economics teacher training course leading to an award of a B.Ed. degree in home economics. My Department pays an annual grant to St. Angela's to cover approved B.Ed. training course expenditure not met by the college's own income. The grant allocation for 2000 is £1,252,000.

My Department also provides funding for the graduate diploma in remedial education at St. Angela's College. This course is part of a national programme of training in learning support.

Beyond these courses and the staffing approved for them other activities and courses in which the college engages are a matter for the college authorities.

John Perry

Ceist:

369 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that his Department is the paymaster of the MSF union members of the staff of St. Angela's College, Sligo; the reason his Department has refused to grade the positions properly or pay according to the years of service, responsibilities or actual work load imposed upon them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28245/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

St. Angela's College is a private institution owned by the Ursuline Order. It is one of two colleges which is recognised by my Department for providing a four year home economics teacher training course leading to an award of a B.Ed. degree in home economics. My Department provides funding for St. Angela's to cover approved B.Ed. training course expenditure not met by the college's own income.

The position in relation to the issues raised by the Deputy is that my Department has not received any formal regrading claims from St. Angela's in relation to members of the MSF union in the college. It would be normal procedure for the college to submit such claims to my Department following discussions at local level. If such claims are received, my Department will consider them on their merits and within the context of national pay agreements.