I move:—
Go bhfuil sé oiriúnach a údarú go n-íocfar amach as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas na costaisíi a bhainfidh le haon Acht do chur in éifeacht a rithfar sa tSiosón so chun socrú do dhéanamh d'fhonn freastal leanbhaí i mbun-scoileanna do chur in áirithe, sé sin, costaisí seachas costaisí coistí freastail scoile agus coistí freastail scoile do scuireadh, luach saothair agus costaisí maoirseoirí a ceapfar chun dualgaisí coistí freastail scoile do scuireadh do chólíona, agus cúiteamh d'oifigigh choistí freastail scoile do scuireadh agus do mhaoirseoirí do scuireadh.
That it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys to be provided by the Oireachtas of the expenses of carrying into effect any Act of the present Session to make provision for ensuring the attendance of children at elementary schools, other than the expenses of school attendance committees and of dissolved school attendance committees, the remuneration and expenses of supervisors appointed to discharge the duties of dissolved school attendance committees, and compensation to officers of dissolved school attendance committees and of dissolved supervisors.
The message prescribed by the Constitution has been received from his Excellency the Governor-General. The charges which will ultimately fall upon the Exchequer as a result of the School Attendance Bill will probably be very considerable. There may be some small charges falling on the Exchequer as a result of the work devolving on the Gárda Síochána through the enforcement of the Bill, but the charges will mainly result from the increased number of teachers required, increased capitation grants, and, in addition, State assistance for the provision of additional school accommodation. It would be very difficult to fix any exact figure, but I think I would be safe in saying that, as the Bill stands, in a few years there would be an increased charge between £100,000 and £150,000.
There are amendments down increasing the age from 14 to 16 years. If, as a result of those amendments, the children between 14 and 16 years who are not at secondary schools, technical schools, who are not already at Primary schools or are not in apprenticeship, were to be compelled to attend the Primary schools, there would be ultimately a charge falling on the Exchequer for additional teachers and additional capitation grants of probably as much as £190,000 to £200,000.
I do not think it is to be anticipated that for some time all children who are not now attending school between those years will be compelled to attend school. Even if they were, such a heavy charge could not accrue for many years. The teachers could not actually be found, and I do not think accommodation would be available for some time. The position financially, so far as it can be estimated, is that if the Bill is passed, and if amendments are passed increasing the age from 14 to 16 years, there is the possibility of an ultimate extra charge of something like £350,000. I do not wish the Dáil to infer that in practice it would work out as high as that, but certainly the charge will be very considerable.
