(Cavan) asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that the grants allocated to vocational education committees for the supply of free books to necessitous students are grossly inadequate; and if he will take steps to increase these grants in the coming year, sufficiently to cover all cases of hardship.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Books Scheme.
35.
I am not satisfied that the grants allocated to vocational education committees for the supply of free books to necessitous students are inadequate.
While on the one hand the funds available to me are not unlimited, I am satisfied on the other hand that they are sufficient to meet all cases of genuine hardship.
(Cavan): Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, I know of a committee in respect of whose schools the enrolments have increased greatly but the grant made for the current year was £3,060—£60 less than the previous year. In order to pay the grants to all eligible pupils in the schools at the standards set out by the Department the amount required would be £5,988 —in other words, it is nearly £3,000 short. Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that this appears to be spoiling the ship for the ha'porth of tar?
In the first case, the fact that the enrolment has increased does not necessarily mean that the number of necessitous pupils has increased. Therefore, the figures mentioned by the Deputy may be based on a false premise. I think the Deputy is well aware what are the terms of genuine hardship. I wish to confirm what I have said; nothing the Deputy has said contradicts it, and so far as we can ascertain the scheme is operating satisfactorily.
(Cavan): I have been informed by the CEO in Leitrim that if he has to pay a grant at the standard set by the Department it would take a grant of £5,988; yet he has received only £3,060. Will the Parliamentary Secretary accept that if that information is accurate it certainly means that great numbers of children going to these schools are being left without books?
I wonder if the Deputy was referring to Cavan, because he obviously was not referring to the different counties he now indicates. However, if any circumstance of that sort is brought to our attention, as the Deputy is now doing, this matter will be considered. However, I should like to point out that apparently the scheme generally is being operated on a limited enough basis to the extent that headmasters appear to be confining themselves to grants for new books. They have—and they are aware of this—a discretion in the purchase of appropriate secondhand books as well or in the implementation of a loan scheme, and I wonder if these avenues have been explored. Generally our experience has been that it seems to be accepted that the only way in which the book scheme can be implemented is by buying new books. Of course, there is much more to it than that.
(Cavan): Would the Parliamentary Secretary——
We cannot discuss this all evening.
(Cavan): I do not propose to. Would the Parliamentary Secretary have a look at the position in Leitrim and tell me what he thinks about it?
Certainly.
I wonder does the Parliamentary Secretary realise that what he said suggested that it was the children of rich parents who were not going to school up till now.
The Deputy can read anything he likes into what I said. The scheme is for necessitous pupils.
The reverse is the case if you have a look at it.