asked the Minister for Education if he will make a statement on the progress made on his plans to establish technological colleges; and if in order to avoid misunderstanding he will state whether these colleges will be confined to practical or academic teaching methods, or whether both will be provided for.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Technological Colleges.
58.
The establishment of eight regional technical colleges throughout the country at centres outside Dublin city is at present at an early stage of planning in each case. In order to facilitate and to expedite the provision of the colleges, I arranged some weeks ago that a senior inspector of my Department would visit each committee in whose area a technical college is to be established and give all possible advice and assistance in regard to the successive steps of the planning. This is accordingly being done. The teaching in the colleges will provide as far as necessary and appropriate for both the practical and theoretical aspects of instruction.
Could the Minister kindly tell me if, when he says that a senior inspector is to call in the areas in which comprehensive schools are to be established——
Regional technical schools.
——will these inspectors cover not only the county educational authority where the regional college is to be established but the adjoining counties as well?
They will cover the counties to be served by the regional college.
All of the counties to be served?
Yes.
Might I ask the Minister does he intend to pursue the same procedure in regard to comprehensive schools and will a senior inspector meet the educational authorities of the counties to be served by these schools, or will a different procedure be followed in their regard?
People from my Department have met the educational interests in centres where comprehensive schools will be established and will continue to do so.
I am afraid that is not the case.
Does the Deputy know of a place where a school has been established and where they have not been consulted?
I do not know of any comprehensive school having been established anywhere, but I know where it is intended to establish one, and I do not think the local educational authorities have been consulted. However, I will give the Minister the particulars.
I know the place to which the Deputy is referring. It is because they have been consulted that the Deputy has been asked to come on a deputation to me.
That is not what they tell me.
59.
asked the Minister for Education when it is expected that a regional technical college will be established in Sligo.
The Town of Sligo Vocational Education Committee are at present considering the question of where the proposed new regional technical college had best be sited and they have arranged to discuss the question fully at a committee meeting to be held on 20th instant. I have arranged that a senior inspector of my Department will visit Sligo at an early date to give the committee all the necessary advice and assistance possible in the matter. It is not at present possible to give a firm forecast of when the proposed new college will be ready for use.