asked the Minister for Education if he will state (1) the total number each year of children who reach school-leaving age without having attained the educational standard aimed at by the national school system and (2) the percentage of children at secondary schools holding scholarships; and if he will consider extending to secondary schools the grant facilities available to primary and vocational schools and universities in order to facilitate those anxious to do so to establish secondary schools in poorer areas of the country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Educational Facilities.
If the Deputy is referring to the statutory school-leaving age of 14 years and the standard required for the primary school leaving certificate, the position is as given in my reply of the 19th February, 1958, to a previous question from the Deputy. That reply showed that in the year 1956-57 the number of pupils in the 13 to 14 age group who had not reached the 6th Standard was 14,905.
As regards the second part of the question, approximately 4 per cent. of the recognised pupils in secondary schools in the year 1956-57 held scholarships provided by my Department or by county and borough councils. I am not in a position to state what additional percentage held scholarships provided by school authorities or independent foundations.
The grants payable to national schools, vocational schools and universities vary in relation to form, extent and purpose. The capitation grants payable to secondary schools are of a different type from those payable to the schools in the other categories and in the framing of them cognisance was taken of the fact that grants are not payable towards the cost of the erection of secondary schools. I do not propose to make any alteration in the present scheme of grants for secondary schools.