asked the Minister for Education if pupils attending Kilmacthomas Vocational School, County Waterford, will be provided with facilities for the leaving certificate.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Leaving Certificate Course.
29.
Mr. R. Burke
The request from the County Waterford Vocational Education Committee for permission to organise leaving certificate classes in Kilmacthomas Vocational School is under consideration in my Department at present. A decision will be given in the matter as soon as possible.
Is the Minister aware that this has been a long drawn out matter and that it is important that a decision be made as soon as possible because the intake of pupils to the schools will continue to fall if they feel they cannot continue to the leaving certificate in that school?
Mr. R. Burke
I am aware of the position and I have received deputations from the vocational education committee about the matter. I asked the deputations to assure me that there would be a certain intake of pupils over a period of years but that intake has not materialised. I am afraid that as we stand there does not seem to me to be any adequate cause for a change of policy in this regard. The matter may change over a period of time but I do not see any change in the pattern of attendance at the school at the moment.
That is the point I wish to make. There is not a hope of the pattern of intake changing until the pupils feel they can continue at the school to the leaving certificate. If they feel they will have to go to another school one cannot expect the intake to improve. Would the Minister consider allowing the leaving certificate to be completed in this school? If the Minister does this, I assure him that the intake of numbers will increase sufficiently.
Mr. R. Burke
I can easily concede to the Deputy that I shall consider it and I shall do so.
This matter is causing great anxiety to the parents in that area. The Minister said the matter would be considered shortly but I should like to know how soon?
Mr. R. Burke
I would not like to put a time limit on it but within a matter of months.