Funding regional arts organisers
O’Rourke questioned how VECs could appoint regional arts organisers without additional funding, stressing the need for arts education. Hussey said discussions with education representatives would precede a circular and that funding would be considered in next year’s Estimates; Fitzgerald criticized that response.
asked the Minister for Education if she is satisfied that Vocational Education Committees can adequately interpret paragraph 2.8 of the action plan in education which states that they may appoint regional art organisers from within the total personnel available to the committees, as those committees are already operating within very strict confines; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Comment on this
Discussions will take place with representatives of the Irish Vocational Education Association and the Teachers' Union of Ireland before a circular letter is prepared for issue to vocational education committees in relation to the implementation of this proposal. I am not in a position to anticipate such discussions by way of observations on the proposal in reply to the question from the Deputy.
Comment on this
Would the Minister accept that paragraph 2.8 of the Programme for Action in Education states that VECs may appoint regional organisers from within the total personnel available to the committees? Is the Minister aware that no additional finance has been provided to enable the VECs to so appoint those persons? Is she also aware of the very great need of education in the arts, particularly in the vocational education sphere but also in the wider adult education sphere? My real question is — what money is the Minister going to give towards this provision?
Comment on this
The Deputy is well aware that the question of money will arise on next year's Estimates.