(Limerick West) and Mr. Kitt asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will give details of his proposals to ensure that the five home economics colleges, including Ramsgrange, County Wexford, will be opened and in operation for the coming school year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Home Economics Colleges.
4.
Arrangements have now been made whereby grants by ACOT to the rural home economics colleges will continue in the coming school year at the usual rates in so far as staff salaries and management and capitation grants are concerned, and at approximately half the usual rates in so far as the provision for scholarships is concerned. This will enable the colleges to continue in operation up to June 1984. These arrangements have been made in the context of the phasing out of State aid to these colleges in accordance with the decision taken by the previous Government and endorsed by the present Government.
(Limerick West): Leave out what happened with the previous Government, we are concerned with the present Government. Would the Minister outline what proposals, if any, his Department have for after 1984?
This question deals with the coming year. The Deputy is going on to some other years. If Deputies want to reduce Question Time to a farce there is no reason why the Chair should prevent them, but that is what they are doing.
(Limerick West): I want to remind the Ceann Comhairle that when I am talking about the coming year I am talking about 1983-84, so am I not in order in asking the question?
If the Deputy wants to ask it I will not stop him.
(Limerick West): Has the Minister any plans in his Department to keep these colleges open after 1983-84?
As the colleges are now constituted, no; but ACOT are having discussions with the colleges at the moment about the possible alternative use that might be made of the colleges from mid-1984 onwards.
(Limerick West): In view to the fact that the scholarships have been halved is it not the policy of the Department to phase out these colleges?
The only guarantee the Government are giving and the decision that has been taken is that in so far as the scholarships are concerned they will be getting £50,000 of the £100,000 that was there the year before. In fact they have been told, so far as the future is concerned, that after mid-1984 the services they provided will be discontinued by the State. ACOT are having discussions with the colleges at the moment to find out what future role they might have in whatever area of agricultural education is decided.
In view of the Minister's reply and the discussions that have taken place between the principals and managers of the colleges and ACOT, would the Minister indicate what the present projected enrolments for the 1983-84 year are and if the colleges were to increase their enrolments would the decision be reviewed on the basis of the demand for this type of rural education?
I do not know exactly how many have applied for scholarships or for entry to the colleges this year. I will make that information available to the Deputy as soon as it comes to hand. What is to happen afterwards is not at stake because it has been a Government decision, as indeed, it has been a Fianna Fáil Government decision, that rural home economy schools will be phased out. That is the decision that was taken by the last Government and that is the decision that was taken by this Government.
Mr. Leonard
Has the Minister withdrawn the directive to ACOT regarding the phasing out of the home economics and non-commercial horticulture?
There has been some change in the sense that it was suggested that the scholarships would not be paid at all on this occasion; but at the moment £50,000 of the £100,000 has been paid, which is a partial allocation of the scholarship. Because of the Government decision the whole process will grind to a halt in mid-1984.
This question has got a fair airing and we should move to the next question.
I put down the question. We welcome the fact that they will be open on a partial basis at least for the coming year.
Would the Deputy ask a question?
Is the Minister aware that we are reasonably happy? Will there be changes in the curricula for the coming year and will he insist that we should have a continuation of rural home economics colleges?
This is ridiculous.
It is not. Nobody asked about the curricula.
I am happy that my friend Deputy Byrne is happy. My personal view on this is that I am aware, as most rural Deputies are, that the colleges in question have performed a very useful role over the years but that does not necessarily mean there would not be some other type of role they could play in the future. I am not aware of any changes in the curricula.