asked the Minister for Education if he will state whether his Department is able to fulfil the demand for woodwork instructors in accordance with the returns recently submitted by the chief executive officers; and, if not, whether he proposes to take the necessary steps to remedy the position in the near future in view of the widespread demand in rural areas for the services of these instructors.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Provision of Woodwork Instructors.
The Department is not as yet in a position to meet in fullthe demand for woodwork instructors, in accordance with the requirements of vocational education committees, as given in the returns of chief executive officers. It is hoped, however, to overtake the demand in a few years.
Since the year 1949, inclusive, the Department has held training courses annually for woodwork instructors resulting in an output of about 20 new teachers each year. This is considered to be the maximum number of suitable trainees that can be obtained annually at present.
Does the Minister suggest that 20 new trainees per annum will be sufficient to meet the demand in remote rural areas arising. for the services of woodwork instructors? Does he think that demand will be satisfied with taking on 20 trainees per annum?
I do not think so, but unfortunately we are not able to get more than 20 suitable trainees per year.
Every vocational committee in the country has pressed the Minister to make more woodwork instructors available so that classes can be given in remote rural areas and there is great dissatisfaction among the people in these areas at the lack of educational facilities made available to young people. In view of those circumstances would not the Minister consider increasing the number of trainees per annum from 20 to 50 so that this demand would be met in a very short time?
I have no objection to increasing the number of trainees but I have grave objection to lowering the standards of the teachers and until I get men who are capable of being trained to the necessary standard I will not increase the number.
Is it not a fact, a Cheann Comhairle, that one of the big difficulties involved in this is the lack of finance and if financial accommodation were made available the number of people would be increased accordingly in a very short time——
That is not correct.
——and there would be no question of deterioration of the standard of these woodwork instructors?
If that was true, there would be no difficulty.