asked the Minister for Education whether a Departmental or Inter-Departmental Committee has been appointed to prepare a report on Technical Education, and, if so, if he will state what are the terms of reference, what departments are represented, what is the personnel of the Committee, and when the report will be completed; also, whether it is proposed to appoint a Commission on Technical Education, and, if so, what relation will the report of the Departmental Committee have to the work of the Commission.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - REPORT ON TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION.
No Committee, Departmental or Inter-Departmental, has been appointed for the purpose referred to.
On the transference to the Department of Education, under the Ministers and Secretaries Act, of the administrative control of Technical Instruction services, two senior officers who had considerable experience of the work of these services were asked to prepare a report on the present position of Technical Instruction with a view to ascertaining how far the system served the needs and requirements of the country.
This report was prepared primarily for the information and guidance of my department, but copies of it have been communicated to the other departments concerned with Technical Education, viz., Industry and Commerce, and Agriculture.
The proposal to appoint a Commission to inquire into and report on Technical Education is under consideration at present, and the report referred to will be available for the information of such a Commission when appointed.
Mr. O'CONNELL
Can the Minister say whether the report referred to will be made available to Deputies and others interested?
I gather not, but I think the Deputy had better put a question down.