LIKE OTHER colleges, Limerick RTC has difficulties with the provision of technical staff though, unlike the DIT, Limerick at least has some technicians. The current ratio of students to technicians in the college is 114 to one; the students' union is seeking the appointment of a full time technician and an additional 42 part time craft assistant hours to improve the ratio.

The college authorities have cited financial constraints as the reason the appointments have not gone ahead. The Minister for Education, in a reply that consisted almost entirely of verbal fudge, said any appointment to the college depended on the college's budget submission, available resources and Government policy on public service recruitment.

The college has now applied for additional funding under next year's budget allocation to increase its technical complement.

"Art and design is a very intensive type of course," says USI education officer Malcolm Byrne. "You're talking about technicians being there both for health and safety reasons and for tutorials and advice. It's very difficult for a single technician to service the needs of 60 plus students.

"In the art and design sector, students and staff succeed despite, rather than because of, the facilities and resources. Art and design students are some of the most dedicated students, working seven days a week in most cases, yet the necessary resources and back up are not there.

"There is no sector that is worse off. Art and design really is the Cinderella sector."