Sir, - Over the last number of days various items have appeared in the Irish media regarding the action taken by UCD School of Diagnostic Imaging staff not to set radiography exams. This letter aims to explain the origin of the dispute and why this course of action has to be taken.
The UCD School of Diagnostic Imaging has seven teaching staff and an acting principal. The staff undertake the range of duties required of university staff and are listed in the university calendar. Despite this they are not employed as full university staff and therefore cannot attend Faculty meetings, cannot vote in university elections, and cannot apply for any occasional grants offered by the University to facilitate research. Quoting the UK model, teaching staff in all 28 radiography education centres are employed as full university staff at lecturer or senior lecturer level. It is paradoxical that here in Ireland the staff of one of the foremost European teaching and research radiography institutions are not appropriately employed.
This situation has existed since the UCD School of Diagnostic Imaging commenced the first radiography degree in Europe in 198,7. In the same year a firm commitment was given that the staff would be employed as University lecturers. This did not happen despite a number of further assurances.
In 1995 staff informed UCD that because of the ongoing situation they would not be taking up their position of Assistant Examiners in the 1996 summer examinations which had been done previously on a goodwill basis. This action was deferred in May 1996 following a written assurance that a decision was imminent. By January 1997 no progress was recorded. On February 3rd the staff informed the appropriate University personnel that they would not be taking up the Assistant Examiner role for the forthcoming 1997 summer examinations. A resolution of this situation relies upon documented evidence of a commitment to the transfer of the School of Diagnostic Imaging to the Department of Education within an acceptable time scale.
Having exhausted every other alternative, the staff are disappointed that this action is necessary to achieve equity with their university colleagues. They sincerely regret the inevitable disruption this is causing to their students and their families. - Yours, etc.,
The Staff of UCD School of Diagnostic Imaging: