IADT rejects TUI claims

DUN Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) has disputed figures released by the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) in relation to staff cuts and increases in student numbers.

Last week the TUI alleged that the Institute had lost the equivalent of 12 full-time lecturers as a result of Government cutbacks. The union also claimed that student enrolments in Dun Laoghaire had grown by 576 between 2008 and 2012.

According to the TUI’s figures, core grant funding for the Institute fell by over e3.9m during the same period.

However, Dun Laoghaire IADT has described the TUI’s figures as

“simply inaccurate

? and said the Institute’s growth in recent years has been

“positive and beneficial to growing its dynamic knowledgeable community

?.

A spokesperson for the Institute said:

“Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) also wishes to point out that in fact it had an enrolment increase of 58 undergraduate students from 2012 to 2013 which corresponds to a growth of 2.9 per cent. This healthy increase represents the Institute’s growing stature amongst potential students and industry, as the philosophy of Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) is to create industry-ready students which forms the bedrock of its educational ethos.

“IADT has maintained and enhanced its dedicated team of 117 academic staff over the past few years.

?

Dr Annie Doona, President of IADT, stated:

“Although the higher education sector has, like other public sector organisations gone through a difficult period of funding constraints, with an overall reduction of funding of 9.2 per cent, at IADT we continue to maintain and improve our high standards of teaching excellence, graduate employability and industry collaboration.

?

She added:

“Our plans for the future are ambitious and will continue to focus on our strengths in creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship, producing excellent graduates for creative digital industries in Ireland.

?

Dr Doona said the Department of Education and Skills and the Higher Education Authority had been

“remarkably supportive

? of Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) and over the past four years the Institute has received e33.8m in Government funding and additional funding of over e5.5m for its new state-of-the-art National Film School facility.

This will be the most up-to-date facility for education in film and television production in Ireland and will feature two high-definition television studios when it officially opens later this month.