Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 May 1962

Vol. 195 No. 5

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Report of Council of Education.

31.

Mr. Pattison

asked the Minister for Education whether it is the policy of his Department to encourage the teaching of subjects through Irish and to encourage an increase in the number of A type secondary schools; and, if so, whether he will take immediate steps to ameliorate the present situation with regard to the provision of text books in Irish, having regard to the fact that at present, as stated by the Council of Education, there is not a subject of the curriculum for which a full range of text-books is available, and even standard works are not available for some subjects.

33.

Mr. Pattison

asked the Minister for Education whether, as recommended by the Council of Education, he will now take steps to have introduced pass and honours courses and papers in the Intermediate Certificate examination.

34.

Mr. Pattison

asked the Minister for Education whether, as recommended by the Council of Education, he will reduce the number of periods which may be prescribed for detailed study in the Leaving Certificate course.

35.

Mr. Pattison

asked the Minister for Education whether, as recommended by the Council of Education, he will abolish the translation from the vernacular into Latin as an examination question in the pass course in the Leaving Certificate.

37.

Mr. Pattison

asked the Minister for Education if he will state, in view of the recommendations of the Council of Education, what steps he considers taking to encourage improved training in oral expression and proper enunciation in English.

38.

Mr. Pattison

asked the Minister for Education whether in accordance with the recommendations of the Council of Education, he will extend the rota of Shakespeare plays at present set for the Intermediate Certificate course, since a rotation of three plays year after year is likely to have a discouraging and deadening effect on any English teacher.

39.

Mr. Pattison

asked the Minister for Education whether, in accordance with the recommendations of the Council of Education, he will have included in the English poetry syllabus for the Intermediate Certificate some poems of a light or amusing character.

41.

Mr. Pattison

asked the Minister for Education if his attention has been drawn to the statement of the Association of Geography Teachers (Ireland) on 5th May that geography is relegated to a minor place in the secondary school curriculum and is usually taught by non-specialist teachers, and recommending a complete reappraisal of geography's functions as a school subject; and whether he will consider, notwithstanding the remarks of the Council of Education on the subject, taking a step towards the improvement of the position of geography by making it a separate subject in the Intermediate Certificate course.

Dr. Hillery

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39 and 41 together.

Procedure in connection with the Council of Education's Report will be for it to be circulated to the various educational bodies for their observations. On the receipt of these, the Report will then be examined in the Department in the light of all the points of view thus received. Until this has been done, I shall not be in a position to indicate my decisions on the various recommendations.