asked the Minister for Education if he will consider raising the age limit for pupils for county council scholarships, from the present age of 13 years to 14 years so as to give equal opportunity to rural children attending national schools of the one teacher and two teacher type.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Age Limit for Scholarships.
60.
As I have already stated in reply to a similar question on 30th June last, I am satisfied that the present age limits, 11 to 13 years on 1st April of the year of the examination are equitable and educationally desirable.
As regards rural children attending one teacher and two teacher schools there are reservation clauses in the scholarship schemes generally which make special provision for children attending this type of school in the matter of the allocation of scholarships.
Could the Minister say if the reservations referred to are stipulated by the Minister or by the local authorities? Does he mean the local authorities have power to make reservations?
I mean the local authorities have power and they exercise the power.
Do they exercise it in every case?
Off-hand, I cannot answer that, but I know the vast majority do.
In fact, would the Minister say local authorities may if they like?
No; I am saying most of them do.
Could the Minister say how many local authorities increased the age?
I should require notice of that question.
Would the Minister agree that the reservation of which he speaks is that local authorities may reserve a certain number of scholarships for the children within the age groups in question?
That is true, but the question says "to give equal opportunity to rural children attending national schools of the one teacher and two teacher type." What I pointed out is that local authorities have power and, in fact, exercise that power, to reserve a certain proportion of scholarships for children attending that type of school. In one particular case I know of, they allocate half the amount available to that type of school.
The Minister will agree it does not affect the qualification in age which is mentioned?
Perhaps the confusion arises from the fact that the question brings in two points—age and the type of school.
The Minister is aware that all local authorities do not exercise the right to do that?
I have said I cannot give a positive answer as to the number, but I know the majority do exercise the right.
Would the Minister agree there is a wholesale demand to bring back the old age?
I would not agree that the Deputy's description is accurate when he says "a wholesale demand". We might dispute the meaning of that. There have been demands, but I would not say the demand is by any means supported generally by those who are concerned with raising our educational standards.
Could the Minister say if he has had any representations from the teaching bodies in regard to the question of age?
I am trying to recall what the representations were. I do not know exactly whether they were on those lines. There were certainly representations in regard to the content of the examinations. I cannot tell the Deputy offhand whether there were such representations or not.
I can well see the difficulty in which the Minister finds himself but as one who seconded Deputy Corry in Cork County Council on this problem, I want to assure him that the question here is the raising of the age from 13 to 14, irrespective of school. That is what we in Cork County Council want.