asked the Minister for Education if he will state the reasons why the full grants towards the cleaning of schools have not been paid, for the period of the recent dispute between his Department and the teachers, to the managers of those schools which were affected by the dispute, especially having regard to the fact that, in most cases, the cleaning staff were retained and paid in full by the managers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grants for Cleaning Schools.
I assume that the Deputy's question refers to those schools which were completely closed during the period of the strike.
The full amount of the grant payable in respect of the heating of the schools was allowed in all these cases. Only one half of the grant in respect of the daily cleaning of the school-rooms was paid. The reduction in the latter instance was due to the fact that the schools were closed more than half the year in question and the need for their daily cleaning during that period did not arise.
The Minister says that he assumes that I am speaking about schools that were closed entirely. If the Minister would read the question he will notice that I pointed out that school managers retained their cleansing staffs during the dispute in anticipation that the dispute would be over at an earlier date, and they paid them in full, not expecting that the Government would withdraw half the amount. Where are the managers to recoup themselves for the money already paid to the cleansing staffs who had no dispute with the managers and no dispute with the Education Department?
If the Deputy has a particular case in mind, if he would be good enough to communicate with me I shall look into the matter.
Will the Minister investigate the matter and find out the number of managers who paid their cleansing staffs in full and will he see that they will be recouped the expenditure which they incurred? They did not wish to do an injustice to the cleansing staffs by sacking them and they might not be able to get them back if they did.
I have not heard any complaints in this matter.
Has the Minister got a complaint from any manager?
We have had one complaint.
Now, you have put your foot in it.
Is the Minister prepared to receive applications from all the managers who had complaints to make but who did not make them?
I am not. The managers have a free right of access to me. There is nothing to prevent any school manager writing to me if he has any complaints to make.
I have drawn the admission from the Minister that there was at least one complaint and there are many more.
They have not to be introduced to me by the Deputy in the form of Dáil questions.
I have to expose these matters. That is my duty.