Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte leis an Aire Stáit, atá tagtha anseo chun eolais a thabhairt dúinn maidir le GMIT. I want to talk to the Minister about the implementation of the report of the working group on the development and sustainable plan for the Mayo campus of Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology. I will not beat about the bush. The report recommended that the permanent head of centre be appointed. I know the post was advertised in September. Why was it re-advertised in February? After the short-listing, why was the recruitment process stopped and referred to the governing body? Why was a decision made to postpone the interview process? I understand it was referred to the risk unit, where the review took place.Was the review completed? What were the results of the review? Can the Minister of State assure me and others that the correct procedures were followed?

The governing body sub-committee had its first meeting in March, yet I believe there was no consultation with staff members or the programme boards around that. I am concerned about that. I am aware that €40,000 was allocated for the promotion but I am concerned about the lack of consultation. Who decided how that money should be spent?

I am very concerned that none of the structural repairs have been carried out. The building required urgent repairs. The independent external facilitator has not yet been appointed. I was happy, like many other supporters of the Mayo campus of the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, GMIT, when the Minister of State and the Government agreed to facilitate the report of the working group. That group's work is undermined while its recommendations are not implemented. The recruitment process also concerns me. Perhaps the Minister of State could speak about some of the points I have raised.