asked the Minister for Education if he will state, with reference to his recent public-statement that a commission was sitting to investigate the school-leaving age: (1) the date upon which the commission was set up; (2) its personnel; (3) its terms of reference; (4) whether any interim report has been received on any aspect of its inquiries; and (5) when it is anticipated that its report will be received and circulated.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School-Leaving Age Commission.
If I have been reported as saying that a commission was sitting to investigate the school-leaving age my actual statement must have been misunderstood. I was referring to the Commission on Youth Unemployment set up by the Minister for Industry and Commerce by warrant dated the 26th May, 1943, which I understand is likely to include a reference to the school-leaving age amongst its recommendations. The terms of reference of the commission are as follows:—
1. To examine and report on the extent and causes of unemployment amongst young persons of school-leaving age and under 20 years, and, having regard to social, economic and financial considerations, to make recommendations as to the most practicable and desirable measures (a) to prevent and remedy such unemployment, (b) to guide such persons in their choice of a vocation, and (c) to secure for such persons the most appropriate and efficient training to fit them to take a useful part in the economic life of the country.
2. To make recommendations as to control of the conditions of employment of young persons for the purpose of promoting their spiritual and physical welfare and their efficiency as workers and of giving them opportunities of equipping themselves for more highly skilled work.
3. To make recommendations as to the most practicable and desirable measures for promoting the religious, intellectual and physical development of young persons.
The personnel of the commission at present consists of: His Grace, The Most Rev. Dr. J.C. McQuaid, Archbishop of Dublin—chairman; Father Aloysius, O.F.M. Cap.; Miss Louie Bennett, Mr. G.J.T. Clampett, Father Thomas Counihan, S.J.; Mr. G.H. Cecil Crampton, Mr. Martin Gleeson, Mr. Martin Keady, Mr. James Larkin, Mr. Peter McCarthy, Mr. Gerald S. McInerney, Dr. Conor Martin, Dr. T. J. O'Connell, Mr. Joseph O'Farrell, Mr. H.B. O'Hanlon, Mr. M.W. O'Reilly, Mr. Cathal O'Shannon, Miss Kathleen O'Sullivan, Mr. F.J. Meyrick, representative of Department of Agriculture; Mr. M. Ó Sithigh, representative of Department of Education; Mr. W. Maguire and Miss Brigid Stafford, representatives of Department of Industry and Commerce.
The commission has not presented an interim report and I understand that it is not possible to say at present when its final report will be received.
Would the Minister indicate under which of the three heads of the terms of reference it would be possible for the commission to investigate the question of the school-leaving age?
Under heading 3, for example—"To make recommendations as to the most practicable and desirable measures for promoting the religious, intellectual and physical development of young persons."