Freedom of Information

7.5] Faculties / Departments / Students and Awards

7.6 Finance

The College is a designated Institute under the Higher Education Authority Act 1971. As a result, the annual grants for current and capital expenditure are allocated through the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

The current expenditure is allocated on a calendar year basis and the College is normally advised of its grant by the beginning of February each year. The College's audit year-end however, is 30th September. This means that for the purpose of preparing the annual budget for the HEA, which budget must be prepared on a calendar year basis, we have to pro-rate between two separate sets of audited accounts.

In respect of the budget, estimates are prepared by the Accounts Department and are presented at the February meeting of An Bórd initially. It is this budget that the College operates on at the start of the year and An Bórd formally adopts the budget for the year once the HEA advises the figure in February or March. On occasions this latter figure is not advised for a number of months if there are delays at the Department of Education and Science. In those situations the College continues with the initial budget agreed by An Bórd.

Following the adoption by An Bórd of the draft accounts for the previous year and the budget for the current year, the College submits its proposed budget to the HEA in early March and a formal meeting to discuss this submission takes place soon afterwards. The submission is attended by the Director and Registrar on behalf of the College.

The College is required to bring a balanced budget every year and can make supplementary grant claims in respect of expenditure, particularly in the pay area, which had not been signaled at the time the budget was being prepared. In the preparation of estimates for the current expenditure, An Bórd takes into account receipts form fees and sundry income and any expenditure on capital items which An Bórd wishes to pay from the current accounts allocation. For virtually all of the past ten years, the College has been fortunate to operate within a surplus situation and has managed to generate a sufficient surplus to cushion against any shortfall in the annual budget. Unfortunately at present we are operating in a deficit situation.

In addition to balancing the budget, the College is also required to control the number of posts in the College in accordance with directives included in overall Government policy. In this context, the College supplies a quarterly return of the staffing position in the College to the HEA.

The accounts of the College are subject to an annual audit by the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

In addition to the grant for current expenditure, the College may receive a capital grant from the HEA for equipment. In recent years this grant has been very small and has been supplemented by using some current grant for capital purposes.

7.7 Buildings

The College is located in a single campus at Thomas Street, Dublin 8 as follows:

The main campus, 100 Thomas Street, Dublin 8 houses all of the College's Faculties and Departments as well as the Administration and Library areas.
John Street West premises have been leased from the Augustinian Order since 1986. The lease was renewed in March 1996 for a further ten years. The building houses CEAD (Continuing Education in Art and Design) and life-drawing facilities.

In 1980, the College purchased part of the Old Powers Distillery property and began the development of Phases I and II of its building programme. In 1983 it acquired the remainder of the Distillery property at Thomas Street and St Augustine Street and began planning for the next phase of building. Unfortunately it was not until 1995 that the College was authorised to proceed for planning permission with Phase III of the building programme which is entitled The School of Design for Industry which runs along the east side of the campus at Thomas Street.

The School of Design for Industry was completed in the summer of 1998 and since then all of the College has been centralised on the Thomas Street campus. The building is a 5,200 sq. mt. building and it houses 1st Year Art and Design Core Studies, the Faculty of Education and the Design Departments of Industrial Design and Visual Communication. The completion of this building has given a great boost to the College and has closed off the eastern side of the College's premises.

The architects to the School of Design for Industry were Doyle Architects and the finance for the development was provided through the European Regional Development Funds supplemented by the Irish Exchequer.

The College hopes to complete a property deal that has taken a number of years whereby the College will acquire from Dublin Corporation the Fire Station which fronts on to Thomas Street and which we may make our main entrance to the College. In order to finance that deal we will be using the surplus on funds arising from the swapping of a piece of land that the College had at Augustine Street across the road from our campus in exchange for a piece of land to the immediate west of the College.

The College completed a Campus Development Plan during the academic year 2000/2001. This plan which was initiated through the Friends of the National College of Art and Design proposes a development of the campus costing in the region of IR£50 million (_63.5 million) to meet the College's requirements through the next twenty years.

7.8 Map of Property

(yet to be constructed for web)

7.9 Euro

The College is at an advanced stage leading to Euro conversion. Payroll is already stated in Euros and from 1 October 2001 all College accounting transactions will be based in Euros.

7.10 List of Agencies and Services with which the College is associated

The following is a list of agencies and services with which the College is associated:

1. The Higher Education Authority for matters relating to:

Finance, Buildings, Staffing, Academic, Statistics.

Chairman: Dr Don Thornhill
Secretary/Chief Executive: John Hayden
Deputy Secretary: Mary Kerr

2. The National University of Ireland (NUI):

All of the College's courses are now validated by the National University of Ireland for all new entrants.

Registrar: Dr John Nolan
Assistant Registrar: Attracta Halpin
NUI Dublin - UCD Registrar: Dr Caroline Hussey

3. Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HEAC) (formerly known as the National Council for Educational Awards - NCEA):

All 4th Year students and a small number of other students are pursuing studies on courses validated by HEAC.

4. Department of Education and Science:

With the exception of the Minister's Office with regard to membership of An Bord, the Department of Education and Science deals with the College through the Higher Education Authority.

5. College Solicitor:
Roger Greene & Sons, 14 City Gate, Lr Bridge St, Dublin 8.

6. Auditor:

Comptroller and Auditor General, Dublin Castle, Dublin 27.

7. College Bankers

Bank of Ireland, 85 James Street, Dublin 8

8. College Insurance Brokers

Willis Corroon Ireland Limited, 80 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2

9. College Security

Paragon Security Services Limited, 14 Belvedere Place, Dublin 1

10. College Doctors

Students: Dr Marina Kent (attends campus for a half day three times a week during term time)

11. Student Counsellor

Linda Mackin (attends a half day twice a week during term time)

12. Careers Guidance Counsellor

Jacyntha McManus Cleary

13. Union

SIPTU, Liberty Hall, Dublin 1
Branch Secretary: Carmel Hogan

7.11 Outline of the History of the College from 1746 to the Present Day

1746 Robert West had a private drawing school in George's Lane (later named George's Street). The Dublin Society (which later became the Royal Dublin Society) decided to subsidise Robert West's School by means of student premiums and fee payments on behalf of students.

1750 The Dublin Society took over West's School. It set aside rooms for a drawing school at its premises at Shaw's Court, Dame Street. Robert West was the Master of the Figure School; James Mannin was Master of the Landscape and Ornament School in 1756, and Thomas Ivory was Master of the Architectural School in 1759; Henry A Baker, James Gandon's Assistant, succeeded Ivory.

Throughout the 18th century, the Dublin Parliament gave an annual grant to the Dublin Society which included support for the School. In fact, this was the only State supported art school in Great Britain and Ireland.
The Society awarded prizes and medals to the best pupils annually, as well as to the Irish artistic community at large.

1767 The Society moved to a new building in Grafton Street, to which the drawing schools were moved later from Shaw's Court.

1796 The Society and its schools moved to Hawkins Street, to stables at rear.

1801 From this year, the State subsidy came from the Westminster Parliament. This led to a great deal of continuing friction with the Treasury in London; it was much less sympathetic to the Society and sought to increase state control from London.

Throughout the 18th century there were three schools:

School of Figure Drawing

School of Landscape and Ornamental Drawing

School of Architectural Drawing

These continued in the 19th century until 1849.

1811 A fourth school was added:

School of Modelling

to which the eminent Irish Sculptor Edward Smyth was appointed Head.

All the schools, with the exception of the School of Modelling, offered tuition only in drawing - no painting. The method of teaching was by means of drawing the nude model, the plaster antique, and by copying prints and drawings. The training in drawing ornamental patterns was a key element, becoming more important after 1854. Most of the students were simultaneously engaged in commercial workshops where they learned craft skills.

1815 The Society moved to Leinster House and shortly afterwards converted the stables for use as a drawing school. The stables were on the site later occupied by the National Library.

1820 The Dublin Society became the Royal Dublin Society.

1827 Permanent drawing schools were built beside Leinster House together with the gallery overhead which was used to exhibit the Society's teaching collection of sculpture and works of art generally. The schools were downstairs in the basement. These rooms and gallery remain in use today, as the Leinster Lane annex of the present College.

1849 The Board of Trade in London took over the control of the School, as a school of design (for industry) and, gave it a direct vote which was managed by the Royal Dublin Society.

1854 In 1854 control was passed to the newly established Department of Science and Art, London. The School was made to conform to the new London syllabus emphasising design education. Fine Art education in the later 19th century was the province of the Royal Hibernian Academy, not of the School of Art.

1877-
1936 Dublin Metropolitan School of Art - The School was bought out from the Royal Dublin Society by the British Government and it became a wholly centrally supported school through the Department of Science and Art which was also responsible for the Library and Museum and certain other Irish institutions. During the late 19th century design for lace was promoted in the School as well as throughout Ireland.

1900 Control passed by statute to the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction, Merrion Street, Dublin, with the vote coming from the Treasury in London. Major reforms were introduced before the Great War, notably craft classes, particularly in stained glass, enamels, metalwork, as well as the life class taught by Sir William Orpen.

Many students won prizes at the National Competitions in art at South Kensington.

Students presented for the Technical Schools examinations of the Department from 1913 onwards, replacing London examinations.

1924 The Department of Education took over the control of the Metropolitan School of Art. From 1914 onwards the school experienced difficulties in terms of resources which subsequent political instability only increased.

1936 The Metropolitan School of Art became the National College of Art with Professorships of Design, Painting and Sculpture. Weaving, Ceramics, Metalwork and Glass Departments were subsequently added in the 1950s.

1969 After a series of adverse reports asking for reform at the College, a crisis situation developed leading to periodic closures of the School by the Government.

1971 The National College of Art and Design Act, 1971 was passed.

1972 May 1st was establishment day of the National College of Art and Design (Coláiste Náisiúnta Ealaíne is Deartha).

1973 James Warwick, former Principal of Belfast School of Art, became Consultant Director.

1974 Jonah Jones became Director.

1975 An Bórd took over direct responsibility for administering its finances.

A Faculty structure was introduced in 1974:

Faculty of Fine Art Painting

Fine Print
Sculpture

Faculty of Design

Craft
Fashion and Textiles
Industrial Design
Visual Communication

Faculty of History of Art and Design
and Complementary Studies

Faculty of Education and Extra Mural
Studies

Department of Pre-Diploma Studies

1976 Designation under the Higher Education Authority.

1977 Agreement signed with the University of Dublin, TCD for the award of degrees.

1980 Purchase of part of the Powers Distillery premises at Thomas Street. New Department of Visual Communications moved into the new buildings.

Noel Sheridan appointed as Director.

Degrees awarded through the National Council for Educational Awards for the first time.

1981 Part of the Kildare Street premises handed over to the Office of Public Works. The Administration, Department of Craft Design and the Faculty of Visual Culture moved to Thomas Street and space was also made available there for a temporary Library.

1982 The Faculty of Fine Art, the Department of Pre-Diploma Studies (now called 1st Year Art and Design Core Studies) and the Department of Fashion and Textiles moved to Thomas Street.

1986 The Department of Industrial Design moved from Princes Street to the School at Johns Street West.

1988 First MA Degree awarded. First Honorary ANCAD awarded.

1989 With the validation of the Textile Design degree by the NCEA, all undergraduate courses were at degree level.

Noel Sheridan on 5 year leave of absence - 1989/1994.

Appointment of Dr John Turpin as Director.

1994 Professor Noel Sheridan returned to his post as Director on 1 July 1994.

1995 December: Commencement of celebrations to mark NCAD 250 with an ecumenical service in Christ Church Cathedral attended by President Mary Robinson.

1996 NCAD 250 celebrations continued with the publication of Professor John Turpin's History of the College (February); launch of 'Solas' (Occasional Research Papers in Art and Design Education) (April); Electricity for Life Exhibition (art, craft and design competition for second-level schools) (May/Hugh Lane Gallery); Graduate Fashion Show (May/RDS); launch of 'Thought Lines' (an anthology of student research in the year 1995) (June); Visual Communication Exhibition (July/Guinness Hop Store); Craft and Textiles Exhibition (August/RDS); Industrial Design Exhibition (Civic Offices); Drawing 1746-1996 Exhibition (RHA Gallagher Gallery); Honorary Award Conferrings. The year closed with an ecumenical service in St John's Lane Church, Thomas Street in December 1996.

1996 NCAD received NUI 'Recognised College' status (July).

1997 Mealla Gibbons retired as Registrar after twenty-four years service to the College. In October 1997 An Bórd appointed Ken Langan (Assistant Director) the new Registrar and restructured Accounts and Admissions areas.

1998 College vacates Leinster Lane premises, which it has occupied since 1827 in June

1998. The new School of Design for Industry is completed and ready for occupation in August 1998. November 1998 the College awards its first PhD.

1999 The College acquires the former Fire Station on Thomas Street. First intake of students under the NUI validated courses. Disposal of St Augustine Street site for site to the west of the College plus a financial consideration.

2001 Completion of College Campus Development Plan.

8] Rights of Review or Appeal other than under Freedom of Information

Complaints about the quality of services or the manner in which they are delivered by the College are normally considered in the first instance by the Secretary of the College.

Persons who are not satisfied and who wish to make written complaints may do so by contacting the Director of the College who will promptly investigate the matter and reply to the person concerned.

Page 2 of 2 - <<previous page