asked the Minister for Education if he will state the present position with regard to the formation of a council of education.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Council of Education.
The present posi tion, speaking generally, is that I intend, as I have frequently affirmed, to set up a council of education at an early date.
The implementation of that intention necessitates a good deal of preliminary consideration and exploration. This council will be a very important body and its decisions and recommendations will have a very wide influence on educational trends and policies in the future. It is imperative, therefore, that the utmost care be exercised in defining the terms of reference and selecting the personnel.
I have, over a period of some months, devoted considerable time towards ensuring that these and other relevant factors will be so ordered that the council, when constituted, may inspire confidence in the public and be able to bring to its deliberations expert knowledge, ripe experience and sound judgment.
I hope to have all arrangements made for the convoking of the council within a reasonably short time.
Am I to take it that the Minister is now giving more consideration to this question than he did when he gave the undertaking referred to in it?
The Deputy can understand that I have been considering this matter for quite a long time.
The mountain in labour.
Some questions are so important that it pays to give consideration to them for a very long time. Some questions are so important that if they are rightly attended to the benefits that will flow therefrom will extend over a very long period.
Is the Minister aware that the statement he has made indicates that he did not give sufficient consideration to this matter before the last general election?