asked the Minister for Education if he will state (a) the total extra number of teachers required to raise the school-leaving age to (i) 15 years and (ii) 16 years, and (b) the total estimated annual cost in each case.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Raising of School-Leaving Age.
Mr. Lynch
Until such time as it had been decided to raise the school-leaving age and decisions had been arrived at as to the form to be taken by the education of the pupils who would thereby be compulsorily required to attend whole-time courses of study it would not be possible to give the information requested by the Deputy.
In relation generally to the question of the extension of the school-leaving age this seems to me to be rather a matter of providing increased educational facilities than of extending compulsorily the age limit. The number of pupils in the 14-16 age group in attendance at full-time courses of education has been increasing steadily year by year as the facilities have been increased. The fact that about 60 per cent. of children in the 14-15 age group and about 48 per cent. of those in the 15-16 age group are in whole-time attendance at recognised schools is evidence of this. The facilities are continuing to increase and with them the percentage attendance.
What are recognised schools? What comes under that heading?
Mr. Lynch
Schools in respect of which the Department of Education undertakes to give grants of different descriptions such as building grants or payments of capitation grants in respect of pupils attending.