asked the Minister for Education the statute or order invoked in the issue of instructions to teacher training colleges concerning the language to be used for teaching or examination purposes in such colleges.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teacher Training College Instructions.
40.
The authority in relation to this matter arises from the conditions governing the conducting of the training colleges and the granting of qualifications to national teachers which are laid down in the rules and regulations for national schools. The Deputy must also appreciate that the training colleges are largely dependent on grants from my Department and that it is open to me as Minister to attach such conditions as I may deem fit to the payment of those grants.
Would the Minister state the authority under which he makes rules for national schools, covering training colleges? Under what Act of the Oireachtas or of the British Parliament do the rules come?
I have already pointed out to the Deputy that training colleges are directly under the control of my Department and that I am entitled to make rules and regulations in relation to the training colleges on that basis.
I understand that the latter part of the reply means that the Minister can wield the big stick financially. We know that is true in respect of the entire educational structure, but he may not use it in issuing instructions as to how the schools should teach. The Minister has referred in the first part of his reply to his authority. Under what statute or Act are those rules made? Under what statute do they apply to training colleges?
Rule 153 (1) authorises the Minister to grant aid to approved training colleges for the maintenance and instruction of students preparing to become national teachers. Rule 155 empowers the Minister to make regulations concerning the admission of students.
I am asking the Minister for his authority for making those rules. Under what statutes are those rules made?
I have not got that information.
That is the question which I put down. Will I put it down again next week?
The fact of the matter is, as I have stated on a previous occasion, that the policy in relation to the Irish language is the policy of this party.
Never mind the policy. There are laws in this country and even the Fianna Fáil Party has to abide by them. I will put the question down again next week.