Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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148. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the current governance issues in the National College of Art and Design; that there is no board in place; her plans to ensure that the new board is fully independent and transparent in its appointments; the method that will be used to appoint new board members; and the date on which she expects the new board to be in place. [13496/15]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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149. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has been briefed by any person in her Department on accounting irregularities within the National College of Art and Design. [13497/15]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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150. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the levy of €100 for studio and materials on students of the National College of Art and Design; the legal basis on which the college is allowed place this levy on students; if the college is legally obliged to demonstrate to students where these moneys are used; if she is aware that the Higher Education Authority has said that this charge must be voted on by the students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13498/15]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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151. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the fees for the master of arts in the digital world programme in the National College of Art and Design have risen from €2,850 to €3,900, causing a number of students to leave the course; her views that this increase is appropriate; and her plans to address this matter. [13499/15]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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152. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding allocated to the National College of Art and Design each year since 2006. [13500/15]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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155. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide copies of reports, either conducted by or held by the Higher Education Authority, in relation to spending, budgeting, accounting or other financial matters in the National College of Art and Design. [13503/15]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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157. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of tuition fees received by the National College of Art and Design for the years 2006 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13505/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 to 152, inclusive, 155 and 157 together.

As the Deputy may be aware issues regarding financial, accounting and governance matters in the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) were identified by the Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG) in a Special Report which was submitted to my Department last September. I would like to assure the Deputy that the matters raised are of serious concern to my Department and my officials have been working with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) in order to have the concerns dealt with. I understand that NCAD is currently working on implementing a number of changes and improvements in its systems and processes in order to address the issues identified in the C&AG report.

Details of the recurrent funding, including grant in lieu of tuition fees funding, provided to NCAD is set out in the table.

Higher education institutions such as NCAD are autonomous bodies and have responsibility for their own day to day affairs. Many students in the higher education sector are required to pay additional charges, over and above the Student Contribution, relating to the cost of their course including costs associated with Garda vetting, health screening, fieldtrips etc. Similar charges for materials commonly occur in art and design programmes in other institutions. A referendum of registered students usually only occurs where a levy is to be introduced to contribute to the cost of specific facilities for student services purposes, e.g. student centre, sports facilities.

In relation to the fee payable for the Masters course in NCAD, again, institutions are autonomous bodies and therefore the criteria governing the level of tuition fees to be charged in relation to postgraduate study is determined by the institutions and I have no role in relation to the matter. However, it should be noted that the average postgraduate tuition fee in other higher education institutions can range from €5,000 to €6,000.

The three-year term of office of the board of the NCAD expired on 1 March 2015. A new board will be appointed for a three year period up to 1 March 2018. Members of the board are appointed in accordance with Sections 6 and 7 of the NCAD Act, 1971. My Department has recently sought expressions of interest from suitably qualified candidates for consideration for appointment as Chairs and ordinary members to boards and governing bodies of institutions and other bodies in the higher education sector including NCAD. Expressions of interest were sought by way of a public advertisement on www.education.ie and www.stateboards.ie. The expressions of interest received are being processed and the new NCAD board will be appointed as soon as possible.

Details of recurrent funding provided to the National College of Art & Design

Provisional core grant allocation for 2015: €4,889,311 (excluding amounts yet to be allocated, e.g. pensions).

Amount of fees already paid to date in 2015: €700,000. Further instalments will be paid during 2015.

Note: The above amounts represent the calendar year payments in respect of grant and fees. Final fee payments to the College are based on certified final fee claim for each academic year.