asked the Minister for Education if he will investigate the possibility of incorporating Saint Patrick's Training College in the national university administration with a view to providing graduates of that college with a university degree such as Bachelor of Education.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teacher Training.
45.
The whole matter of the future structure of teacher training is at present being examined. There could be no question of considering the position of one college in isolation.
Could the Minister let us know if he has had any discussions at all on this matter with the students concerned?
I have, on many occasions. I am glad the Deputy raised that matter because I should like to refer to the fact that recently when visiting St. Patrick's Training College I had to endure considerable obstruction. Since then letters appearing in the newspapers imply that this arose because of the fact—at least this was stated by some of the students who wrote the letters to the papers and by other students—that I had not met the students from the training colleges in relation to any of these matters. I should like to point out very clearly that the most recent meeting I had with the students of St. Patrick's Training College and other training colleges was on 29th November, 1971, at which I discussed all the matters concerned. I presented the diplomas on 17th December.
We are all indebted to Deputy Power.
If this be the case why is it incumbent on the Minister to intrude on the matter at all?
I do not know what the Deputy has in mind.
That is too bad.