asked the Minister for Education whether he has received the statement issued on 25th May by the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, the Association of Secondary Teachers (Ireland) and the Vocational Teachers' Organisation, in which these organisations stated that he had not consulted them on the plan for education which he announced recently, and that he had not sent a copy of his statement to any of these organisations until specifically requested to do so; whether he will state fully the reasons why he did not consult with the organisations concerned; and why he did not furnish them with copies of his statement.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Education Plan: Consultation with Teachers' Bodies.
26.
Matters of fundamental policy must be formulated on the sole responsibility of the Minister concerned and with, where necessary, Government approval. There could be no question of submitting such matters to outside bodies prior to their promulgation. Full details of my statement were published in the public press and the necessity for furnishing copies to all the bodies who might be interested did not arise.