asked the Minister for Education whether he has approached any of the existing bodies responsible for the provision of secondary or vocational schools as to whether they would be agreeable to provide voluntary, secondary or vocational schools in areas in which he has stated that the scattered nature of the population would make the establishment of a school unlikely.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Voluntary Provision of Schools.
43.
The answer is no. I am quite satisfied that under the existing arrangements a viable scheme of post-primary education which would be adequate in scope could not be provided for these areas.
Could the Minister state when the idea of the provision of schools by private groups or individuals as against the State provision of the essential service of education became the policy of the late and not lamented NPD Party?
There was antagonism to both the vocational and comprehensive school policy of the Department in Deputy Dr. Browne's question.
Somebody must do the work when you will not do it.
Do not be talking about doing work. The Deputy has no interest in it. I have 20 pinpricking questions from the Deputy here to-day and the trend of them is opposition to the vocational and comprehensive schools.
Answer the questions. That is what you are paid for.
You are against the giving of an opportunity to children who need it.
It is your job to answer these questions.
The Deputy has kept up a persistent attack on both the vocational and comprehensive school systems. If that is to be the policy of the Labour Party in the future, they are not what I thought they were.