asked the Minister for Education if he will state in respect of the Pupil Transfer Committee: (1) the date on which it was established, (2) its composition, (3) its terms of reference (4) the date of its first meeting, (5) the number of times it has met and the date of each meeting, (6) if it has submitted an interim report, (7) when it is expected to submit its final report and (8) when it is intended to publish its findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Pupil Transfer Committee .
30.
: The information is given in a written statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, will be circulated with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
1. 12 June 1978.
2. Two national teachers.
Two secondary teachers.
Two vocational teachers.
One Chief Executive Officer of a Vocational Education Committee.
Two members of the Irish Christian Brothers.
Two members of Catholic Primary School Managerial Organisations.
Three members of the inspectorate of the Department of Education.
Two members of the public who are mothers of school-going children.
The Chairman of the Committee is a former Secretary of the Department of Education and an ex-Chairman of the Higher Education Authority.
3. To report on the problems of transition from child-centred primary to subject-centred post-primary schools and to make recommendations as to changes which may be necessary in primary and post-primary curricula in order to alleviate these problems.
4. 4 July 1978.
5. In addition to some 50 meetings of Sub-Committees the Committee has met on 23 occasions to date viz.
4 July 1978, 29 September 1978, 11 October 1978, 27 October 1978, 24 November 1978, 26 January 1979, 9 March 1979, 27 April 1979, 26 May 1979, 27 June 1979, 31 August 1979, 5 October 1979, 9 November 1979, 6/7 December 1979, 18 January 1980, 22 February 1980, 21 March 1980, 2 May 1980, 23 May 1980, 27 June 1980, 11 July 1980, 19 September 1980, 3 October 1980.
6. No.
7. Shortly.
8. The question of publication of the report will be considered in due course.
: Have the committee submitted an interim report or a final report, and if not when does the Minister expect to get the final report?
: There has not been an interim report and I am pressing for the final report.
; How long have the committee been in being?
: Too long, since 12 June 1978.
: We will not have any report until the next general election.
: That will be a long time.
: Would the Minister agree with next April?