asked the Minister for Education the amount being allocated for the in-service course for post-primary remedial teachers in the coming year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Post-primary Remedial Teachers.
76.
Specific provision has not yet been made for these courses but the question of such provision is still under consideration within the overall financial allocations for the educational services.
Is the Minister stating that these courses will be made available this year in Dublin, Limerick and elsewhere as they were last year?
As the decision has not been taken yet I am not saying anything at this point. The question of what the provision should be, its scale and where it should be has not been decided and, for that reason, I am not in a position to be precise about it.
Would the Minister not agree that planning for these courses should be well in hand? The vagueness of his answer gives rise to a suspicion that the courses will not be held at all.
The Deputy may have a suspicious mind but I am afraid I cannot help that.
I am not getting an answer to my question. The Minister is not normally a flippant person but on a very serious matter he is being flippant. Does he realise that about 16 per cent of the people transferring from primary schools are in need of remedial teaching? Further, does he realise that there is grave doubt among people who are interested in remedial teaching about the Department's intention? Does he realise also that it is the duty of the Department to clear up this doubt?
I am sorry if I appeared to be flippant but there is not any very precise answer I can give the Deputy when a decision has not been taken. I accept that the matter is one of urgency. I will pass on to the Minister the Deputy's views and I hope it will be possible to have a decision taken in the very near future.
I should like to raise this matter again, perhaps later this afternoon.