Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 May 1941

Vol. 83 No. 9

Committee on Finance. - Vote No. 48—Technical Instruction.

Tomás O Deirg

Tairgim:—

Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £230,225 chun slánuithe na suime is gá chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1942, chun íocaíocht fén Acht Oideachais Ghairme Beatha, 1930 (Uimh. 29 de 1930) agus chun crícheanna eile i dtaobh Ceárd-Oideachais agus Oideachais Leanúnaigh.

That a sum, not exceeding £230,225, be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending the 31st day of March, 1942, for payments under the Vocational Education Act, 1930 (No. 29 of 1930), and for other purposes connected with Technical Instruction and Continuation Education.

Mr. Corish

During the course of my speech yesterday I referred to the discontinuance of engineering scholarships for vocational scholars, and I asked the Minister what was the prospect of having them renewed shortly. The Minister has not said anything about it.

Mr. Derrig

I will look into the matter, but we have to make some economy in a situation like this and, as I say, I think we have to congratulate ourselves on maintaining the present level generally.

Mr. Corish

I would ask the Minister that, in case there may be renewal, to let me know.

Mr. Derrig

I do not quite agree with the Deputy in this matter. We know there is a surplus of engineering graduates in the country at present, for example.

Mr. Corish

I am talking about engineering teachers.

General Mulcahy

I would like to ask the Minister whether he can tell the House anything as to what the proposals are with regard to the national school of domestic economy at Kilmacud. I understand it is being replaced by an establishment in the City of Dublin. Will he say when that change will take place, what are the arrangements with regard to the control of that school, the number of pupils likely to be catered for and how they will be obtained?

Mr. Derrig

I have no detailed information for the Deputy, but I can send it to him. The position is that the Department of Education has made an arrangement with the City of Dublin Vocational Committee by which we are to have joint responsibility in respect of this new school. I understand that it will be used for conducting classes in domestic economy under the vocational education committee and will provide extra accommodation for these classes. So far as we are concerned, it will provide new premises for the training college for domestic economy. We have laid down certain regulations which, I think, have been published—I am not quite sure—as regards the terms under which scholarships may be held in this new school of domestic economy. The entrance examination, as in former years when the college was at Kilmacud, is on a strictly competitive basis and scholarships of a certain figure—I cannot say the exact amount at the moment—will be awarded to the successful applicants. I shall let the Deputy know what the number of students is going to be. It is hoped that the new college will commence work in September next.

General Mulcahy

Will it be residential?

Mr. Derrig

No. I think arrangements are being made for boarding out. Probably hostels will accommodate most of the students.

Mr. McMenamin

I should like to know in that connection will there be a special staff for teaching those girls who are later to go out as instructresses throughout the country? Will special qualifications be prescribed for those teachers who will be sent out by the Department over and above those for girls who attend the school casually to get a certificate? Will there be a special examination of a higher standard for those who are being trained as teachers as against those who come in from the city casually just to improve their domestic education? I understand this is going to be an organisation within an organisation. Will the Department be responsible for the qualifications of those girls who are being trained for positions such as were formerly filled by highly-skilled teachers throughout the country?

Mr. Derrig

Yes.

Mr. McMenamin

As distinct from the teaching of the young women who will go into the school simply to improve themselves and for whom the standard will not be so high?

Mr. Derrig

We have a staff in Kilmacud and we shall ultimately have a larger staff, a more specialised staff in this school for the training of instructresses. It is hoped that it will be possible to give courses, not alone for domestic economy instructresses, but for hotel training and for related branches of vocational training which girls might be anxious to undertake. The position with regard to scholarships is that there are two Grade A scholarships of £100 each—£60 plus £20 education and £20 expenses. There will be eight ordinary scholarships of £60 each. There will be 20 vacancies each year in the new college.

General Mulcahy

How many years does the course run?

Mr. Derrig

Two years.

General Mulcahy

Does the Minister mean £100 each year for the scholarship?

Mr. Derrig

Yes.

Vote put and agreed to.