asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that Clooncagh National School, Strokestown, County Roscommon, is without an assistant teacher for the past 16 months, that the people of the locality have latterly refused to send their junior children to school for the reasons that there is no supervision and that no instruction is given, and that prosecutions for non-attendance are threatened by the Gárda Síochána; and, if the Minister will state what steps he proposes to take in order to end this undesirable situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Clooncagh National School.
I am aware that Clooncagh National School has been without a recognised assistant teacher for approximately the period mentioned in the question, but, during the period from the 1st April to the 25th September, 1941, a trained assistant teacher taught in the school who could not be recognised by my Department in view of the fact that there were eligible teachers on the diocesan panel, one of whom could have been appointed by the manager to the vacancy.
I have been informed that the parents of children on the roll of Clooncagh National School have withdrawn some of the children from school recently, because there was no assistant teacher provided for them. I understand that the Gárda Síochána have not, so far, taken any action in the matter.
I have recently had representations made to the diocesan authorities regarding this case and as a result I have reason to hope that the appointment of an eligible assistant teacher will be made at an early date.
Mr. Brennan
Would the Minister inform the House of the number of teachers who were on the panel at the time this vacancy occurred, what their qualifications were, what were their circumstances, and whether it was possible or is now possible to transfer any of those teachers to the school in Clooncagh?
During the period in question, when a teacher was teaching in this school who could not be recognised by the Department, there were two teachers on the panel.
Mr. Brennan
What were their circumstances?
With regard to the circumstances, I should like to inform the House that the panel regulations contain the following rule:
"(2) It is not permissible for a manager, under this sub-section:— (i) to refuse to appoint a teacher on an approved panel to a panel vacancy on the ground that the appointment would necessitate the teacher residing away from home; or (ii) to refuse to appoint to a panel vacancy a married woman, qua married woman, who is on an approved panel. (g) Where an assistant teacher, lay assistant teacher or junior assistant mistress, whose name is on an approved panel and who is continued in a school and paid salary under the provisions of this section. is offered and refuses a suitable alternative position, which the Minister decides that the teacher should accept, payment of salary in the capacity in which he is serving may be continued to such teacher only to the date on which the teacher is informed by the Department that he should accept the alternative position.”
I should like to say, with regard to the question of determining whether the position is a suitable one, that I cannot take into consideration the circumstances or the convenience of the teacher. The word "suitable" in this connection merely means, so far as I am concerned, that it should be proper to the qualifications of the teacher, and that the teacher should be eligible to fill it. I have no discretion in the matter except to see that the panel regulations and rules are fulfilled, and it would be utterly impossible to make exceptions in individual cases. We have to stand by the panel rules, and see that they are fulfilled entirely by every manager. Otherwise, the administration of the scheme would be impossible.
Mr. Brennan
Can the Minister inform the House if one of those teachers who was on the panel was marked by his inspectors as non-efficient; if another was within six months of retiring at the time, and if the third was and still is a grass-widow—her husband is an invalid in hospital, and likely to remain there—who lives about 60 miles away from this particular place, and has a small family and a small place to look after? Are those the circumstances relating to those three teachers on the panel from which the manager was supposed to make a selection?
As I explained, the position was given to a teacher who could not have been recognised by the Department. At the time she was teaching in the school there were eligible teachers having the necessary qualifications on the panel.
Mr. Brennan
The persons I mentioned?
This teacher resigned, and on 28th September, when she resigned, apparently no steps were taken to fill the vacancy in accordance with the panel regulations. The manager stated that the panel teachers were not willing to transfer, but he did not state that he had offered the position to them. At this time there were two efficient teachers and one non-efficient teacher on the panel. On 5th December, the manager was asked whether the three panel teachers had declined to accept the position, but no reply was received although he was reminded of the matter. The position has been unsatisfactory, and very serious from the point of view of the education of the children, but the Department of Education is not to blame for the position that has arisen. The panel regulations are in the hands of the manager.
Mr. Brennan
Am I right in stating that, if this lady whose husband is ill was offered this position and refused it, she would be immediately dismissed by the Department, and if she accepted it she would have to send her children into some home to be looked after, and leave her little place unattended to by anybody? Is that the position? Is that what the Department wants to do? Are you simply waiting for a chance to dismiss this woman?
I do not know on what the Deputy is basing this accusation. There is no suggestion of dismissing the teacher. The position is that I have no discretion. If the teacher is not willing to take up the position, then her employment terminates.
Mr. Brennan
Quite.
That is the basis of the whole understanding of the panel. We cannot continue teachers indefinitely in schools where the attendance does not necessitate it. The panel system was got up to enable them to be maintained in employment elsewhere, and in the number of years during which it has been working it has been accepted loyally by managers, and by teachers who, at considerable inconvenience to themselves, have had to go from one part of the diocese to another.
Does the Minister think that No. 2 gives a reasonable choice to the manager, or gives him any real choice in many cases?
Mr. Brennan
Hobson's choice.
I am not asking what the rules are, but does the Minister think that the manager has a reasonable choice?
The manager has no choice.
I thought so.
In accepting the panel regulations, the managers gave up their freedom of choice——
Mr. Brennan
Quite so.
——and agreed to take the teachers from the panel.
Mr. Brennan
I would wish to raise this matter on the adjournment, but, the Estimate having been introduced last evening, if it is taken up at an early date I will forgo raising the question on the adjournment.