asked the Minister for Education if he will consider the appointment of a psychiatrist and an educational psychologist to the city of Dublin school attendance service.
19.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Attendance Legislation.
18.
asked the Minister for Education if he will consider revising the School Attendance Act, 1926, with a view to bringing it into line with present day requirements.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 19 together.
A special task force has recently been set up by the Tánaiste as Minister for Health to examine the whole area of legislation affecting children.
The Department of Education have appointed a representative on the task force and I have arranged with this representative that the task force will consider the school attendance legislation in conjunction with the other legislation.
When the report from this task force is available the Government will consider what new legislation is required in this whole area. No application has been received from Dublin Corporation for approval to appoint the specialists mentioned in Question No. 19 but it would seem preferable in any event to await the outcome of the task force's report before deciding on additional appointments.
The latest report of the city of Dublin attendance officer advocates the employment of a psychiatrist and educational psychologist. I am sure the Parliamentary Secretary has read this report.
As far as I know, the procedure is that such applications go to Dublin Corporation through the Department. No application for a psychiatrist or an educational psychologist has been received in the Department.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary consider the damage which is being done to the youngsters of this city because these appointments are not being made? Has the Parliamentary Secretary seen the report?
I have seen it and I have read it. What I have been trying to tell the Deputy is that no application for the appointment mentioned in his question has been received in the Department. If an application is received it will be considered.
The Parliamentary Secretary has read the report urging that the appointment be made. Does he want a nice letter to be sent to him——
The position in relation to making such an appointment rests with the school attendance people and then with Dublin Corporation. If they make application, as the Deputy has in mind—perhaps the Deputy might be able to use his influence here—such an application will be considered by the Department.
Has provision been made in the Estimate for the employment of the officer in question?
I do not imagine that the Department would make provision in their Estimate for the filling of an office for which an application has not yet been received. If such an application is received it will be considered. If it is decided to make such an appointment, presumably provision will be made in the estimate for it.