asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the report which was recently submitted to the Westmeath Vocational Education Committee by the regional art organiser; and if she agrees, in the light of the facts contained in this report, that the organiser is facing an insurmountable task and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Regional Art Organiser's Report.
13.
I have found the report of the official in question interesting and on the whole encouraging. I would not agree that her situation is essentially different from that of other public officials. A considerable degree of resourcefulness is necessary in all areas of the public service at present to enable the country to surmount current financial difficulties.
May I ask for your guidance, a Cheann Comhairle? Could I ask for your advice on a matter?
It depends on what it is.
The Minister said she had read the report. Now I have the report in front of me and I want to quote the report. How can I get over that?
The Deputy may not quote.
There is a disparity between the Minister and myself. I have the report and what can I do?
I would ask the Deputy to reserve it for the debate on the Estimate.
I am genuinely seeking information. I am in a predicament and that is why I am asking the Chair for his advice.
The Deputy can reserve it for the Estimate. I do not want to appear unhelpful but there is a rule that one may not quote at Question Time. There have been a series of precedents and I have to abide by them. For example, a Deputy may not ask more than one question but there is a practice growing up where three, four and five supplementaries are asked on the same question. Quotations are definitely not in order.
The Ceann Comhairle will accept that a great deal of the procedure, particularly at Question Time is quite novel to me. I have the report in front of me and that report contains the evidence. The Minister and I are not on all-fours and what forum have I in which to raise the disparity?
I would not be competent to give a lecture on procedure. I know when someone is in order and I know when someone is out of order. I do not think the Deputy would be out of order if she were to ask the Minister did she not know so-and-so and so-and-so.
I want to have the point cleared up. The Minister said that she had read the report and found it interesting. It is quite clear from the report that the midland regional art organiser employed by the County Westmeath VEC is facing an insurmountable task and finding her work practically inoperable and the good work which should derive from her work is diminished because of the lack of assistance and the conditions under which she has to operate. That is the evidence. Is the Minister aware that these financial confines are dictated by her Government, by her and by her Department?
I would not dream of suggesting that what the Deputy said is untrue. What I said was that I found the report interesting and encouraging. I then went on to say I would not agree that the situation in question is essentially different from that of other public officials. There is no question of any disagreement or any difference in that particular respect. I then said that a considerable degree of resourcefulness is necessary in all areas of the public service at present. That really is the extent of the difference between the Deputy and myself. I do not deny anything that the Deputy has said. I find the report very encouraging and interesting. It is clear from it that the official in question would have to be very resourceful, as are a great many others in the public service.
I accept that the official in question would have to be very resourceful as, indeed, is the young woman who has compiled this report. She has been doing fantastic work——
A question, please, Deputy.
——in this area. The Minister did deny that this girl's task was insurmountable. I contend that the facts as outlined here——
A question, please, Deputy.
——show that her task is insurmountable. Would the Minister endeavour to see that the work of this excellent organiser is allowed to continue and that the insurmountable level of frustration which she is now experiencing in the course of her job is not let continue?
I assure the Deputy that we will do everything possible to improve the situation for this as for other officials as soon as we possibly can. Some of her difficulties arise, perhaps, because the vocational committee in question have not set up a particular sub-committee for which she wished. That, of course, is a matter for the committee.