asked the Minister for Education the percentage of senior cycle pupils in post-primary schools who are studying history.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Post-Primary History Students.
31.
In the school year 1976-77 approximately 37 per cent of senior cycle pupils in post-primary were studying history.
Will the Minister not agree that this is a scandalous state of affairs? Can he confirm the fact that even pupils who do history can follow a course that makes no mention whatever of Northern Ireland?
I would be horrified to think that was so.
I can pass over to the Minister for his information the journal of the Association of Secondary Teachers—for all I know he is still concerned with that organisation—which states that almost 20 cent of those who are studying history in our schools follow a course that makes no mention of Northern Ireland. Will the Minister investigate the situation?
Whatever the course might say, a history teacher would be in grave dereliction of duty as a teacher in our society if this was the case.
Might this not be a matter for the relevant syllabus committee?
We could refer it to the syllabus committee. I am pleased with the Deputy——
The question relates to the number of students.
I crave the indulgence of the Chair. We are all northerners.
Will the Minister indicate——
I am calling the next question.
On a point of order. I wish to protest at the attitude of the Chair to my supplementary questions. In relation to Questions Nos. 14 and 15 the Chair was very quick in not allowing me to ask what I considered to be important questions. I do not want to have a row with the Chair——
The Chair will not enter into an argument.
I am entitled to ask supplementary questions on important issues.
The Deputy must resume his seat.
I am protesting about this matter.
If the Chair is erring in any way at Question Time it is by permitting too many supplementary questions, many of which are not relevant. As I have stated here on the few occasions on which we have met since the new Dáil assembled, other Deputies who have put down many of the 500 questions are anxious that their questions be reached also.
With respect to the Chair, if the Ministers would answer the questions put to them there would not be supplementary questions.
We are not entering into a discussion on the matter.
This is a serious matter. Will we be afforded the protec- of the Chair when we seek to elicit information? Very often it happens that Ministers refuse to give the information we require. Can the Chair protect Deputies who ask questions?
The Chair has no control over whether a Minister answers a question or how he answers. My difficult task is to ensure that there is order and it is difficult when two or three people are on their feet at the same time, sometimes asking questions when the next one has been called. We must have order at Question Time. I do not want to make a long statement on the matter; it is not usual for the Chair to do so. One Deputy complained that he was not allowed to ask more questions but I think I must have permitted him about ten supplementary questions.
There seems to be a fall down in communications today with regard to questions Nos. 29 and 30. The Chair has said he has no control over the Minister with regard to answering them. I have spoken to Deputy Creed and he has told me that he asked to have his questions for written reply except for Nos. 29 and 30. Obviously the Chair got the same message because he was not told they were for written reply.
What are the questions concerned?
Questions Nos. 29 and 30.
If the Minister has the questions perhaps he will answer them now. The time is up but I will permit an extra minute to reply to them.
I am afraid I have not got them. Evidently they were extracted in the belief that Deputy Creed had asked for written replies.
Can they be inserted on tommorrow's Order Paper?
If the regulations permit.