ITE O'DONOVAN,
Madam, - Michael Dervan's report on the debate over the future of music education (The Irish Times, February 7th) quotes Dr Brendan Goldsmith as saying: "DIT is anxious to maintain the teaching of music. With regard to teaching at first and second level, it's not at all clear that DIT receives any or at least adequate resources to do this."
Perhaps Dr Goldsmith is not aware that in September 1990 the College of Music, in its entirety, was publicly confirmed by the then Minister for Education, Mrs Mary O'Rourke, as being a legitimate constituent of post-legislation DIT (1992), as was the apprenticeship area. It is my understanding that the Department of Education continues to give the same budget towards music education at all levels to the DIT as it did to the City of Dublin VEC. If anything, DIT has more money than ever to spend on music as student numbers have been allowed drop from over 2,000 to less than 1,400 in that time.
However, clause 2.6 of the DIT Operational Programme and Budget 2003/2004, headed "Curtailment and restriction of Academic Activities", states that "a number of academic areas are under review, which include the Conservatory of Music and Drama and the provision of additional apprenticeship places."
Is this not a threat to the future of music education in Dublin before any discussions with the "major providers of music performance tuition" have begun or even been agreed? - Yours, etc.,
ITE O'DONOVAN, TUI representative, DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, Chatham Row, Dublin 2.