asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the number of children deprived of jam for buns supplied by the Dublin Corporation School Meals Committee because of the failure of jam supplies to Rutland Street National Schools on Friday, 2nd April, and Monday, 5th April; and if he will also cause inquiries to be made into the failure to supply jam to the children of St. Laurence O'Toole's Schools on Monday, 5th, Tuesday, 6th, and Wednesday, 7th April.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Jam Supplies for School Children.
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health (1) if he will state the cause of the failure to supply jam for buns now being used by pupils attending St. Saviour's Schools, Great Denmark Street, Dublin; and (2) whether, in the event of jam not being available, a hot meal or butter and cheese will be provided for this and other schools eligible to participate in the school meals scheme.
I propose to take questions Nos. 16 and 17 together. The making of arrangements for the provision of school meals in Dublin rests with the corporation and the Deputy will readily understand that my Department cannot be expected to be supplied with every detail of the arrangements for each school. According to the information I have obtained there was a temporary dislocation in the arrangements for the supply of jam to the schools referred to. I also understand that it is not the practice to include jam in the school meal given in St. Saviour's School. In Rutland Street School the number of children who did not receive jam on the dates mentioned was 1,425.
Mr. Byrne
Would the Parliamentary Secretary say when such dislocation occurs what becomes of the jam that the children should have got and for the manufacture of which sugar is provided under the School Meals Act?
The Deputy will have to address that question to the School Meals Committee of the Dublin Corporation.
Mr. Byrne
The Parliamentary Secretary is in charge of the School Meals Committee and pays 50 per cent. of the cost, and he should be aware of what happens to the jam.
I have answered the Deputy's question.
The Deputy is a member of the School Meals Committee.
Mr. Byrne
The Parliamentary Secretary says——
One-sided explanation of Minister's answers and comment thereon is not a supplementary question.
Mr. Byrne
I say, with all respect to the Chair, that the Chair should allow me to get an answer.
The Deputy must not make reflections of that character on the Chair. It is no function of the Chair to secure a reply to satisfy the Deputy.
Mr. Byrne
With all respect, you should not debar me from asking a supplementary question, when I did not get a proper reply. There has been deliberate evasion, for the past couple of months, by at least two members on the Government Front Bench, in my case. It is not your fault, but you have no right to debar me.
The Chair is the sole judge of the number and relevancy of supplementary questions. Persistent departure from relevancy in supplementaries might possibly induce the Chair to curtail the number of supplementary questions of the offender.
Mr. Byrne
And if I do not get a reply? I have my constitutional rights.
The Chair has no more to say on the matter.
Mr. Byrne
I will ask supplementary questions until I get satisfaction.
By permission of and at the discretion of the Chair.
Mr. Byrne
It is the only means of getting satisfaction.
The Deputy complained yesterday that he got too much information.