asked the Minister for Education what steps are being taken to prepare schools and students for the introduction of a decimal currency system; whether pending the introduction of the system he will discourage the publication of new text books based upon the existing currency system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Decimal Currency System.
29.
Adjusting to the decimal system would not, I am satisfied, present any great problems as far as the schools are concerned. The matter is not such as to call for any special action from me at the present time in relation to texts.
Is the Minister aware that many students have considerable difficulty in attempting to do sums in relation to farthings, which is a coin with which most of them are not familiar? Having regard to the desirability of training students in coinage which they will ultimately be using, would the Minister not consider it better to have stress laid upon the decimal system?
Mr. O'Malley
The Deputy is anticipating a decision which has not been arrived at. Anyway, decimals are being taught to all classes in national schools from fourth class up so that the full adjustment to the decimal system would not present any serious difficulty to students. A small addendum to the text could be made just the same as a scale of charges in the Incorporated Law Society can be switched.
Would the Minister consider consulting his colleague, the Minister for Justice, and he will find that it takes years and decades for the Incorporated Law Society which they persist in slandering to get even a modest increase in their hard-earned fees. The Minister for Justice gave that information in the House here last week, so that is a very bad example to take.