asked the Minister for Education (a) the plans, if any, she has to eliminate the inequality that now exists in State subvention to students of post-primary schools as a result of some schools offering a six year cycle and many others offering a five year cycle; (b) if this inequality is going to be acknowledged in the application of the £200 fee for students who elect to take a repeat leaving certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Post Primary Cycle.
68.
It was with a view to removing such anomalies that Circular letter M85/85, which issued to post-primary schools in October 1985, introduced the requirement that with effect from the beginning of the 1986-87 school year the junior cycle be of three years' duration, and the leaving certificate course be of two years' duration in all schools.
Pupils who have sat the leaving certificate examination may be enrolled as recognised pupils to repeat the final year of the leaving certificate course in 1987-88 subject to the payment of a repeat course fee of £100 per pupil and a repeat examination fee of £100. Pupils whose parents or guardians are the holders of a current medical card will be exempted from the payment of the course fee and will only be required to pay the standard examination fee of £33. The present financial circumstances do not permit any further concessions in this matter.
In removing one anomaly the Minister has created another. Would she adopt an interim measure to remove the anomaly she has created — some students will have a six year cycle as of right until at least 1989 and others will have five year cycle as of right? Will she take any measures to even the score between these two groups of students so that one group will not have to pay an extra £100 if they want to take a six year period to do the leaving certificate while others will get that as a right?
The Deputy admits that there is an existing anomaly where some schools were more favoured than others because some had a five year cycle while others had a six year cycle. That in itself was an educational anomaly which, I am glad to report, the Government have addressed satisfactorily. The issuing of the circular and the submission of the various moneys have been highly satisfactory and I do not intend to interfere.
Does the Minister not see it as just and fair that a type of interim arrangement should be arrived at until the anomaly, as she described it, is eliminated?
The arrangements for the people who find themselves in need have been freely availed of and I am glad of that. After a short time the anomalies which are of long standing will be ironed out.
I should like to give notice of my intention to raise on the Adjournment the sentencing to three months imprisonment of two members of Greenpeace by a London court for taking action in defence of our environment by seeking the closure of Sellafield.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like permission to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Question No. 4 on today's Order Paper.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like permission to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Question No. 43 on today's Order Paper.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like permission to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of the Private Notice Question to the Minister for the Environment, which the Chair refused, in regard to the funding of local authority house loans. That is an urgent matter.
I have ruled on that matter.
I wish to raise the issue on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the payment of ESF grants to students in the Dublin VEC area.
I will communicate with the Deputy.