asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the Arts Council report The Place of the Arts in Irish Education; if he accepts the recommendations of the report in so far as they refer to his Department; and the plans he has to implement such recommendations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Arts Council Report.
12.
I recently received a copy of the report in question. It is now being studied in my Department, and I must await the outcome of that study before making any further statement on the matter.
Is the Minister aware of the particular recommendation which refers to the fact that there are no specialist inspectors of art, craft or drama in primary schools? Will he not take an interim step to remedy this glaring deficiency immediately? There is not a single specialist inspector for 3,500 schools.
I want to assure the Deputy that I have a particular interest in this whole area and the suggestion coming from him will receive due consideration. I know that there is a very good art and craft section in one particular training college where I did a little work, Saint Patrick's College, Drumcondra. I am sure that there are equally competent people elsewhere and the teachers who have the benefit of that particular tuition are in a position to advance the subjects in the primary schools. It is a subject which is particularly near to my likes and I assure the Deputy that whatever I can do, whether by inspectorate or by general training, will be done to implement the recommendations of the report.
Would the Minister not further agree that the fact the Arts Council saw fit to include no less than 50 recommendations bearing directly or indirectly on the Department of Education in this area is a glaring indictment of the Department's failure to make provision for this fundamentally important area in the past?
I agree with what the Deputy says that it is a very important area. Glaring indictments are something the Department of Education receive in every sphere.
I appreciate that this is a long report and the Minister has only recently got it in his Department. Could he indicate to the House the type of timetable we are dealing with? When will he be in a position to respond to the recommendations and to the report?
I have sent a note to the section which deals with it to get a report to me as quickly as possible.
Are we talking about weeks, months, or years? Could we aim at pronouncements within six months?
I am not naturally a cagey person but I would be reluctant to mention any particular date.
Would the Minister not ask the body or the person making the review to differentiate between the recommendations which have budgetary implications and the recommendations which have not, such as structural ones? Would he make interim urgent decisions on the changes that can be made without the expenditure of major finance?
I can assure the Deputy that those with and those without budgetary implications will be dealt with as expeditiously as possible.