Vol. 315 No. 3
asked the Minister for Education if he will indicate the up-to-date position in respect of (a) management structures, (b) staff recruitment, and (c) financial arrangements for community schools due to open in the second half of 1979; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
6.
asked the Minister for Education the number and location of community schools due for opening for the first time this autumn; the deed of trust and instrument of management under which they will operate; and if such deeds or instruments have the agreement of all parties concerned.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 6 together.
Considerable progress has been made in the discussions to reach agreement on a deed of trust for the community schools. Some further meetings are due to take place shortly. In the meantime it would be premature to make a statement on the matters mentioned in the question. I desire to assure the Deputy, however, that arrangements will be made to ensure that the schools will be open from September next.
The locations of the schools involved are: Portmarnock and Blakestown, County Dublin; Castletownbere, County Cork; Bishopstown, Cork city; Birr, County Offaly.
I am not satisfied at all with that answer. Is the Minister aware that the question I sought to get an answer to related to management structure and staff recruitment? Is the Minister not aware that there is an article in The Irish Times of today which states that advertisements are to be placed seeking staff? The Minister did not even refer to that in his reply. In relation to the financial arrangements for community schools, since State funds are involved, does the Minister not consider that this House is entitled to know what financial arrangements are going to be made in respect of schools which are going to be opened in September?
The Deputy will accept that my purpose here is not to satisfy him but to give a statement of the facts.
The Minister's purpose is to inform Dáil Éireann following a properly tabled question.
Order, please.
I am informing Dáil Éireann that in respect of the schools in question they will be open to serve the needs of the students as and from September. I am sure even Deputy Collins realises that cannot be done unless there is adequate provision for the financial and managerial structures required.
The Minister did not give us any information about that.
The schools will be opened. This is the important thing.
Members of this House are entitled to know what use is being made of State funds, what advertisements have been made, under what conditions staff are being recruited and what type of management structures will be established in relation to these new schools. Will the Minister inform the House if he is going to advertise for a certain percentage of religious teachers in each of these schools or not? What type of representation will the teachers have on these boards of management of the community schools which are going to open? The Minister is insulting the House by his lack of information.
The Deputy should not equate himself with the House. It is rather difficult not to appear to be insulting Deputy Collins even though one gives him all the information available.
The Minister has given me no information.
Deputy Collins knows that to date there are community schools working very effectively and efficiently. The deed of trust to which he refers has not yet been arranged. I am sure he will accept that the whole purpose of these schools is to cater for the educational needs of the students and, in so far as I assure him that as and from September in respect of these schools that service will be available, that is the important aspect.
Deputy Collins also knows that in respect of a deed of trust the Minister and his predecessor have been endeavouring to get agreement on this matter. This is a delicate area and one in which there are many interests. If the Minister is required to be patient on it, one would expect Deputy Collins would acknowledge the need for patience rather than any imposition.
Does the Minister not feel that this House is entitled to know the management structures for these community schools, the staff recruitment and the manner in which they will be recruited, the position of clerical and lay teachers who will be recruited and the financial arrangements? Moneys are being voted from this House and does the Minister not feel that he should have the decency to tell the House what is happening in the people's schools?
The Minister of State's decency will compare favourably with the Deputy's on any occasion. This is not a question of decency. It is a question of my indicating to the House the position as I know it. The Deputy knows well that until the question relating to the deed of trust has been completed satisfactorily one cannot be any more specific than I have been on this matter.
The Minister is not even aware that advertisements have been——
I will give the Deputy lessons in education at any time.
Is the Minister aware that statements to the effect——
Order, please.
May I ask the Minister if teachers are to be recruited to these community schools and, if so, on what terms and conditions of employment will they be recruited?
Teachers will be recruited in the manner in which teachers have been recruited to other community schools. Such appointments will be made as they have been made in the past through the local CEO.
Can the Minister say in relation to existing community schools whether any of the religious orders concerned have paid any of the moneys due by them in relation to capital cost?
That is a question to which I have not the answer.
Has the Minister made any special arrangements in respect of lay and clerical teachers in the recruitment of teaching staffs to these schools?
I have made arrangements so that there will be adequately qualified staff to deal with the needs of the schools when they are opened. That is the function of the Minister.
Sit down and forget it.
Like most people out of their depth, the Deputy can only scream and shout for help.
