asked the Minister for Education the progress that has been made in developing the farm attached to Roscommon Vocational School; when it is likely to be available for teaching purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Roscommon School Farm.
11.
It is not my Department's policy to develop farms in connection with vocational schools. The use made of lands acquired in connection with the new vocational school in Roscommon is at present under examination and I am not in a position to make a statement on the matter at the moment.
Has the Minister any record of the Government having approved those plans in 1974?
I have no such record.
Has the Minister a record of the approval of the purchase of the land in 1971 or 1972?
We may have known subsequently of the lands being bought but we did not approve of their purchase. The Deputy realises that there is a big question as to whether vocational education committees should be engaged actively in the running of farms as opposed to teaching people how to run farms. The Department of Agriculture would say that the practical side of farming should be left to the agricultural colleges and other such institutions.
Would the Minister not agree that if it is accepted that schools should teach farming, they should have farms for this purpose?
I would not consider it essential that they have farms but, perhaps, it would be essential that in their general areas they would have permission to visit farms.
Is the Minister aware that agricultural science when taught in a vocational or a comprehensive school requires a plot of land on which the students can work and experiment? We are waiting for one in Cootehill.
That may be so in regard to crops but I am not sure that it is necessary in regard to animal husbandry.
A factor that has damned science generally in our schools is that it is classroom and fusty and not related to the real problems? Certainly, this is true in respect of the applied sciences. Would the Minister not consider it desirable that the classroom be related to the realities?
I have no hesitation in agreeing with that but I am not sure that it is necessary for vocational education committees to own and manage farms for that purpose.
How many acres are involved in respect of the vocational school at Roscommon?
Twenty-five.
Would it not be possible to have some tie-up in regard to the group certificate as between the vocational educational system and the agricultural colleges? For example, could the practical year undertaken at an agricultural college not be taken into account for the examination?
I am not sure about that but it sounds a good idea.
The problem is that there are not enough agricultural colleges.