Accountability for Kieran Byrne?

dlofnep

I'm in utter disgust with the spending spree made by our Director - Kieran Byrne. If you haven't seen the article yet, it's available here: http://www.waterford-news.ie/news/story/?trs=mhkfojeyau&cat=news

A grand total of €157,050, enough for a 3 bedroom house in some areas in the town.

In my class alone, while this fella has been making his boardroom and office nice and shiney - we've had one of our most important subjects dropped, due to lack of available funds for a lecturer to run it - resulting in some students wanting to defer the year.

Where is the accountability for him?

157,050 would have put 100+ students through college this year, but when times are hard - he felt it was betterto spice up his office instead of investing it into the college where it's much needed.

Absolutely disgusted with this guy.

Minto

Yea, I heard about this earlier. I was wondering why reception and the careers office had moved, but I guess it all makes sense now. As for accountability, I doubt anything will come of it. Things like this always seem to blow over and fizzle out.

I'd imagine this whole incident really damages our seemingly never ending aspiration for university status.

AdMMM

I'd imagine this whole incident really damages our seemingly never ending aspiration for university status.

I don't see how it would damage it at all. There's no cheap way of equipping new buildings. Not that I'm for the abuse of funding, but I as far as waste goes, this is but a drop in the ocean.

dlofnep

AdMMM wrote: »

I don't see how it would damage it at all. There's no cheap way of equipping new buildings. Not that I'm for the abuse of funding, but I as far as waste goes, this is but a drop in the ocean.

It's not a drop in the Ocean when the college removes one of our most important modules, stating that they can't fund it.

iseegirls

A total of €47,430 has been spent on Professor Byrne’s office, which comprises a bathroom (€7,500), flooring (€4,480), ceramic tiling (€4,000), panelling (€11,600), fireplace (€2,000), plasma screen (€500), fitted furniture (€6,000) and loose furniture (€11,350).

Meanwhile, the boardroom, which is part of the new Tourism and Leisure Education Building, came in at €86,570. This was made up of an AV system (€10,000), a kitchenette (€ 6,250), fitted furniture, fittings, curtains (€24,000), loose furniture (€30,240), flooring (€4,480) and panelling (€11,600).

The remainder of the Director’s office complex includes a second kitchenette (€6,250), flooring (€2,240), wall tiles (€4,260), panelling (€5,800), security and access (€2,000) and furniture (€2,500).

Just looking at those figures makes me sick. How can somebody justify spending €24,000 on curtains??? How they ever got the go-ahead is beyond me. And a fireplace? I'd love to know was it ever used.

west101

Now I know what my extravagant fees are going on. this is going to cause more dissent between students and staff

dlofnep

iseegirls wrote: »

Just looking at those figures makes me sick. How can somebody justify spending €24,000 on curtains??? How they ever got the go-ahead is beyond me. And a fireplace? I'd love to know was it ever used.

I've heard even worse, that hasn't been printed. He should lose his job for sure.

AdMMM

Was the €24,000 not for the furniture and fittings as well?

Bluezar

I'm paying 1500 fees and the college are pissing it up against the wall by spending ludicrous amounts on an office...Joke!

2Bv¬2B

What makes me laugh is, the buy Imacs for the Entertainment Systems course, of which they heavily promoted, and they didn't want to buy the software for it (i.e. Music development software etc)

AdMMM

Bluezar wrote: »

I'm paying 1500 fees and the college are pissing it up against the wall by spending ludicrous amounts on an office...Joke!

Seriously, what the **** do you expect? They have a state of the art building. For some reason I don't think a trip out to the salvage shop would cut it when deciding how to kit out the offices!

dlofnep

AdMMM wrote: »

Seriously, what the **** do you expect? They have a state of the art building. For some reason I don't think a trip out to the salvage shop would cut it when deciding how to kit out the offices!

We don't expect 150 grand+ to be spent on kitting it out, that's for sure. Especially when people are forced to drop classes because of lack of available resources for lecturers, software or equipment.

Do you find it acceptable to waste our colleges fees on nonsense like the above?

chillok

This is an absolute disgrace. We (and alot of other courses) have to get by with free open source software because apparantly they can't afford to buy the industry standard software.

If I contacted a company and told them what software we have experience with, in 2nd year of a degree - they would geniunely laugh at us. He's a fu[king disgrace and should get jail for this. This is stealing.

(I'd also like to add that the fees have nothing to do with colleges, they go to the government..)

dlofnep

chillok wrote: »

(I'd also like to add that the fees have nothing to do with colleges, they go to the government..)

Which funds the college

funnyname

Accountability is a dirty word in Ireland so i doubt he'll have to go for this Marie-Antoinette display of arrogance. As an earlier poster said it akk just fizzle out.

chillok

dlofnep wrote: »

Which funds the college

I thought in WIT campus services paid for the lot. They rip us off with 2 euro coffees and then buy lovely carpets

alpha2zulu

The office kitting out shenanigans are probably only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to frivolous expenditure.

Off the top of my head the now seemingly redundant front car park barrier system, the library entry barriers that have been working for 2 days sofar this term and those prepaid WIT card machines outside the Spar in the Cork Rd campus which I kid you not have Japanese as the main onscreen language on them, would all make interesting FOI requests too I'd imagine.:mad:

Johnnnybravo

24k on curtains were they fukn gold plated??? I thought that was furniture an all but furniture was a further 30k and the 2nd kitchonette??? WHAT THE HELL.

Jesus christ! I cannot believe those figures.

Johnnnybravo

AdMMM wrote: »

Was the €24,000 not for the furniture and fittings as well?

Loose furniture was aparnetly another 30k, so furniture and curtains in one room 50k?? And lol at the fireplace!

tbaymusicman

Apparently if you call to his office in your swimming gear he will let you use the jacuzzi!!

Sully

Just an FYI - the article headline is taking a lot more then just his office into consideration The actual cost of the the office itself does not come to the cost of a three bedroomed house. The other costs relate to the new Tourism and Leisure building.

But yes, still a lot of money for an office. I think this was spent before the recession mind.

shapez

Do you think other Uni's or large businesses for that matter, in the country haven't spent large sums of money on a boardroom or office that is essentially the meeting/greeting point for VIPs when they come to their institution?

dlofnep

shapez wrote: »

Do you think other Uni's or large businesses for that matter, in the country haven't spent large sums of money on a boardroom or office that is essentially the meeting/greeting point for VIPs when they come to their institution?

Are the same Universities cancelling classes, removing essential labs and software on account of "lack of funds"? WIT is not a university, and as such - does not have anywhere near the same amount of funds to play with. When people are leaving college due to the cancellation of essential classes - I think you'll find that our gripe is justified.

dlofnep

Sully wrote: »

I think this was spent before the recession mind.

No it wasn't.

shapez

dlofnep wrote: »

Are the same Universities cancelling classes, removing essential labs and software on account of "lack of funds"? WIT is not a university, and as such - does not have anywhere near the same amount of funds to play with. When people are leaving college due to the cancellation of essential classes - I think you'll find that our gripe is justified.

You may be sure they cancel classes etc.

shapez

dlofnep wrote: »

No it wasn't.

Yes it was. The funds were allocated by the government for that building and it's contents long before the recession started.

I'm not trying to justify his spending at all. I personally think it is outrageous and there are all more things he got up to than just his office regarding inappropriate spending. However, other colleges and unis are the very same.

Sully

dlofnep wrote: »

Are the same Universities cancelling classes, removing essential labs and software on account of "lack of funds"? WIT is not a university, and as such - does not have anywhere near the same amount of funds to play with. When people are leaving college due to the cancellation of essential classes - I think you'll find that our gripe is justified.

Yes. From what I hear, there just as bad if not worse at times. Things in WIT have improved, from what I can see.

dlofnep wrote: »

No it wasn't.

See below.

shapez wrote: »

Yes it was. The funds were allocated by the government for that building and it's contents long before the recession started.

I'm not trying to justify his spending at all. I personally think it is outrageous and there are all more things he got up to than just his office regarding inappropriate spending. However, other colleges and unis are the very same.

dlofnep

shapez wrote: »

Yes it was. The funds were allocated by the government for that building and it's contents long before the recession started.

The funds were allocated in 2008. It's a moot point, if the college doesn't have the funds to spend on it's students, it should not spend to that level on office equipment. There is absolutely no justification for it.

shapez wrote: »

I'm not trying to justify his spending at all. I personally think it is outrageous and there are all more things he got up to than just his office regarding inappropriate spending. However, other colleges and unis are the very same.

Universities receive millions more in funding than IT's, so if we do not have the funds to spend on our students - we should not spend it on office equipment. You say you are not trying justify his spending, but you are trying to justify it by virtue of categorising it as the norm, by shared responsibility across the board with all colleges.

This is not acceptable spending behaviour.

dlofnep

Sully wrote: »

Yes. From what I hear, there just as bad if not worse at times. Things in WIT have improved, from what I can see.

Are you looking through magic glasses or something? WIT is at it's worst this year since I've started. Don't dare come on here and tell me that things have improved when I know this to be false.

We've had one subject dropped, and were only informed that it wasn't going ahead 4 weeks into the semester - where students had to then subsequently take up another subject, after already missing a month of lectures on the said subject. (And at no fault of our course leader either - The issue went back to funds not available for the subject to run).

Or with lecturers routinely missing classes.. Or with software and labs not setup 3-4 weeks into the semester, which resulted once again in lost work for us. All again, due to lack of funds.

WIT is currently a sham. Some lecturers routinely miss classes, and this isn't the first year this has happened either.

All while this Johnny come lately lives the life of luxury in his cosy office.

It's quite categoric who's side you're on on this, and it's not the students.

2Bv¬2B

^^^^^

Agreed,

SeeBach

They/He/She have the power, to do whatever they wish.... its a shame to see this happen but it will not stop

chillok

2Bv¬2B wrote: »

^^^^^

Agreed,

Good to see you.

shapez

dlofnep wrote: »

The funds were allocated in 2008. It's a moot point, if the college doesn't have the funds to spend on it's students, it should not spend to that level on office equipment. There is absolutely no justification for it.

The building was finished and open in 2008. For about 4 years prior to that they were preparing the site and left it until the funds became available. Work started in mid/late 2006 and building was open for 2008 academic year.

As you well know the college gets it funding from the HEA/Dept. of Education. In saying this, certain areas are given funding for specific needs. And unfortunately for students their needs come a lot further down the pecking order. This is not entirely the WIT's fault. It's hold the funds are distributed by the government.

dlofnep wrote: »

Universities receive millions more in funding than IT's, so if we do not have the funds to spend on our students - we should not spend it on office equipment. You say you are not trying justify his spending, but you are trying to justify it by virtue of categorising it as the norm, by shared responsibility across the board with all colleges.
This is not acceptable spending behaviour.

I beg to differ. The vast majority of Uni's funding comes from researchers and research grants that are available from various organistational bodies. Uni's are more like a large business, they actually have to go and make their own money as opposed to been heavily funded by the state, i.e WIT. So, which brings us back to the topic should WIT be a Uni. If WIT was a Uni in the morning we would loose a lot of funding from the government and rely on ourselves to find it.

As I said, it is appalling the level of spending that went on. But, you must remember it happens in ALL Uni's, Institutes & HSE's not just the WIT. Sadly, it is the norm.

dlofnep

shapez wrote: »

As I said, it is appalling the level of spending that went on. But, you must remember it happens in ALL Uni's, Institutes & HSE's not just the WIT. Sadly, it is the norm.

Being the "norm" doesn't make it right, and I reject your attempt to cast it off on behalf of being the norm. John O'Donoghues mis-use of funds was also the norm. You seem confusing the fact that this is an issue of right and wrong, and not an issue of something being normal or not.

Wasting of much needed funds is not acceptable. It doesn't matter when the funds were allocated, the purchases of the materials came much later.

Why any of you are trying to defend this blatant misuse of funds is beyond me. Perhaps if you experienced the same nonsense with equipment, software and classes - you'd be more hesitant to do so.

shapez

dlofnep wrote: »

Being the "norm" doesn't make it right, and I reject your attempt to cast it off on behalf of being the norm. John O'Donoghues mis-use of funds was also the norm. You seem confusing the fact that this is an issue of right and wrong, and not an issue of something being normal or not.

Wasting of much needed funds is not acceptable. It doesn't matter when the funds were allocated, the purchases of the materials came much later.

Why any of you are trying to defend this blatant misuse of funds is beyond me. Perhaps if you experienced the same nonsense with equipment, software and classes - you'd be more hesitant to do so.

I totally agree with you. I'm not trying to cast it off as the "norm". It is blatant disregard for use of funding. It is wrong, completely wrong, however, nobody was complaining about the mis-use of funds 24 months ago.

I have experienced first hand the very same nonsense of equipment, software, classes etc. Going back to over 10 years ago when I started in college (not WIT) it was the same then, it was the same when I studied at night 6 years ago (WIT) and it was still the very same when I studied at night 2 years ago (WIT). I know all about the nonsense that goes on, I've been blue in the face complaining 10 years ago and it's still the very same today.

Maybe we should combine our resources and act upon it?

Sparkles:)

I heard the su wont allow an article in the campus newspaper on it...

2Bv¬2B

Sparkles:) wrote: »

I heard the su wont allow an article in the campus newspaper on it...

It's not as if anything will be done about it anyway, I'd be curious to know why SU wouldn't let the paper print it....

shapez

For those interested there is a response in todays News & Star regarding last weeks front page.

2Bv¬2B

shapez wrote: »

For those interested there is a response in todays News & Star regarding last weeks front page.

Oh yeah. I've seen that, however I think it's unfair that they wouldn't let it be printed in the college paper.

dlofnep

shapez wrote: »

For those interested there is a response in todays News & Star regarding last weeks front page.

Will check it out later, thanks

shapez

dlofnep wrote: »

Will check it out later, thanks

Somehow I get the feeling we'll be having a good discussion about it again!!

Yossarian_Lives

2Bv¬2B wrote: »

It's not as if anything will be done about it anyway, I'd be curious to know why SU wouldn't let the paper print it....

in all my time as a class rep in the college the SU has done its best to avoid major confrontation with the College Admin particularly with Byrne. it does make sense not to upset the people you have to work with on a day to day basis but now that student services are at risk etc will they stand up. with its current leadership, i doubt it. also i like to see the SU expenses and accounts id imagine they wud be interesting reading.

Sully

Sparkles:) wrote: »

I heard the su wont allow an article in the campus newspaper on it...

Where did you get that from? There has been no meeting re: the paper since the AGM where no objections were raised.

MitchKoobski

Sully wrote: »

Where did you get that from? There has been no meeting re: the paper since the AGM where no objections were raised.

yeah im agreeing with this, ive heard no issues with the paper at all.

Maverick2

There is a serious issue here that is being overlooked and that is free speech. Once the article was fair and correct, which I believe it was, it should be published. You may disagree with the expensses, you may not, but the fact is the Campus Times has been undermined continuosly since its inception and this is another example.

An Article was pulled from the CT and that Article was regarding Byrnes expensses. But the fact that the President of WITSU was the one who came down on the Campus Times says alot.

Whatever the money was spent on I feel it wasnt spent prudently and that is my opinion and I am entitled to it. I wont be intimidated by any representative of WIT or WITSU, both of which are of the same ilk.

MitchKoobski

Where is all this coming from though about an article being pulled?

I dont wanna tell ayone theyre wrong , im pissed too, but id rather get a definitive yes that it was pulled and then id like to know who exactly said it?

dlofnep

Maverick2 wrote: »

There is a serious issue here that is being overlooked and that is free speech. Once the article was fair and correct, which I believe it was, it should be published. You may disagree with the expensses, you may not, but the fact is the Campus Times has been undermined continuosly since its inception and this is another example.

An Article was pulled from the CT and that Article was regarding Byrnes expensses. But the fact that the President of WITSU was the one who came down on the Campus Times says alot.

Whatever the money was spent on I feel it wasnt spent prudently and that is my opinion and I am entitled to it. I wont be intimidated by any representative of WIT or WITSU, both of which are of the same ilk.

Interesting.

Maverick2

MitchKoobski wrote: »

Where is all this coming from though about an article being pulled?

I dont wanna tell ayone theyre wrong , im pissed too, but id rather get a definitive yes that it was pulled and then id like to know who exactly said it?

When the CT is published there will not be any article pertaining to Kieran Byrnes expensses. An Article was written, it was submitted and it was scrapped due to pressure from the Students Union and representatives of the College Authorities. Also, I was told that the class rep meeting that was due to go ahead last nite was cancelled for no apparent reason. Those who I was talking to were under the impression that it was to be held??? I am not a class rep but I can assure you if I was I would be raisng this as a matter of urgency.

shapez

Before we lose the run of ourselves here. Although everyone is entitled to their opinions. I do hope you have proof, concreate proof at that to back up your statements here.

Sully

As a member of the Journalism Society, its the first I heard of it. A member on the commitee was also unaware of the situation. I also recall being told at the AGM there would be little or no interference from the SU. Just waiting on one other person to contact me and ill take his word as final as there is no more people needing to be asked.

Doubt the Class Rep meeting has anything to do with this - not a rep this year, so no idea what the story there is.

MitchKoobski

Im a class rep this year and a member of the journalism society.I heard nothing.Nor have i been told about a class rep meeting yet.