andMr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Education when he proposes to sanction the draft university scholarship schemes submitted to him by Meath County Council.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meath University Scholarships.
10.
I would refer the Deputies to the reply given on 13th February, 1968, to a question from Deputy Boylan regarding the university scholarship scheme of Kildare County Council.
Is the Taoiseach aware that the time limit by which these schemes must be prepared is running out and that no reply whatever has been received by Meath County Council from the Department of Education about this very important matter?
I am informed that local authorities were instructed as far back as last October to prepare their schemes on the existing basis, that is, in advance of the legislation.
Would the Taoiseach say why Meath County Council are not being allowed to use up money which they are prepared to use for the purpose of university scholarships and why the Department will not give a reply to the letters which have been written to them by Meath County Council?
I am afraid I have no details of correspondence that has passed between the Department and Meath County Council, but I take it that the instruction given last October to local authorities was given also to Meath County Council.
I do not want to make it awkward for the Taoiseach, knowing the situation he is in at present, but surely if Meath County Council submit a scheme to the Department as requested by them and ask for sanction, it is not too much to ask the Department of Education to say that they are or are not sanctioning that scheme, and so far they have not done that.
I do not know whether legislation would be required for approval of a new scheme, but no time is lost on the part of Meath County Council if they have submitted a scheme which conforms to the basis which was in operation up to October, 1967. There may be some problem, but I do not see any offhand.
They have submitted a scheme for sanction and are awaiting a reply from the Department.
I will look into it.
Can we take it that Meath County Council will go on with the kind of scheme they had in the previous year?
The suggestion was that they would, but I will check whether the new scheme they propose can be implemented.