asked the Minister for Education in view of the proposed legislation on the Curriculum and Examination Assessment Board, if he will detail the plans his Department have to provide comprehensive in-service education programmes for post-primary teachers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - In-Service Education Programmes.
34.
My Department continue to provide a comprehensive range of in-service courses for teachers. The amount of money provided for this purpose in 1985 was the highest ever. Whatever further courses are necessary in future in the light of recommendations by the Curriculum and Examinations Board will be provided in consultation with the board.
I appreciate that the Minister is studying these matters and has made great progress——
The Deputy is too kind.
(Interruptions.)
Will the Minister agree that the Curriculum and Examinations Board document shows that the very fine proposals in it will not be implemented unless they are preceded and accompanied by rigorous and comprehensive in-service courses for teachers? Is the Minister also aware that in other European countries, such as Holland, where curriculum changes and assessment in examinations were introduced without the necessary in-service courses for teachers, those advances were not a success? The Minister is in a giving mood today so would he be prepared to agree with me that curriculum changes must bring with them in-service courses for teachers particularly at second level? Is the Minister aware that there are very few in-service training courses for teachers at second level?
Lest the Deputy exaggerate what I said, the commitment I gave to the Deputy was to listen favourably to what she said, not to do what she wants. I am anxious that in-service training would be extended and when the Curriculum and Examinations Board are statutorily established and start producing recommendations on the new arrangements it is clear that enhanced in-service training will have to take place. This matter will take a lot of consideration and probably some extra funding. It will be part and parcel of the enhanced educational service which this Government are determined to provide for the children in bringing into being the programme for education initiated by my predecessor. The nature, range and location of the new in-service teacher training courses could be relevant to the matter we will be discussing later on this evening.
Before we move on to the next business, I would like to say that recently the Government gave around £40 million to keep B & I in operation, but £5 million is being given to a shipyard in Liverpool to repair B & I ships——
The Deputy is out of order.
It is a disgrace that £5 million is being spent abroad when there is a workforce in Cobh——
It is an absolute disgrace that the Deputy should ignore Standing Orders in the way in which he is ignoring them.
Should this matter not be seriously addressed?
Yes, but the Deputy should address it in a serious way.
I am very serious. There are thousands of people unemployed and Verolme Dockyard has been closed ——
I do not know whether the Deputy has anything in mind but ——
I have in mind to ——
—— will the Deputy resume his seat?
The Government should have ensured that that £5 million had gone to Cobh and not to Liverpool.
The Deputy will resume his seat. Item No. 6.
It is a national disgrace.