(Limerick East) asked the Minister for Education if she will arrange for Carysfort College, Blackrock, County Dublin, to continue to play a role in the education system under the management of the Sisters of Mercy, in view of the reduction of £1 million in the 1988 Book of Estimates for grants to primary teacher training colleges; if so, the exact role she plans for the college; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Carysfort College (County Dublin).
7.
The Deputy will be aware that following the previous Government's decision to close Carysfort College no new students were enrolled in 1986 or 1987 and the present students will graduate in June 1988. My Department are at present considering appropriate arrangements for the staff of the college.
The future role of the college itself is primarily the concern of the college authorities and any discussions that may take place on this matter would be appropriate only after the arrangements for the staff have been completed.
The change was a very small one. Perhaps, a Cheann Comhairle, you could inform me as to who is responsible for printing the questions which have been submitted? The question as submitted read: "To ask the Minister for Education if it is her intention to arrange for Carysfort College to continue to play a role in education". The question which appears on the Order Paper asks "the Minister for Education if she will arrange for Carysfort College to continue to play a role in the education system". Will the Minister address herself to that question? Can the Minister tell us what is the status of the report of the committee headed by Mr. Liam Lane which was submitted to the previous Minister for Education, where he gave his agreement for a continuation of Carysfort College? Does the Minister agree with what is contained in that report? As there is no money in the Estimates for 1988 for Carysfort College, can the Minister tell us whether money will be provided under any other subhead to allow for a continuation of the college?
In answer to the first point made by Deputy Hussey, I will deal with the question as submitted on the Order Paper. As regards the status of the report which was submitted by Mr. Liam Lane, it was a report submitted by the working party which was set up to examine the future role of Carysfort College. As I explained in my reply, no new students were enrolled in Carysfort College in either 1986 or 1987. The present students will graduate in June 1988. As I also said, my Department are at present holding discussions with the staff of the college and it would be incorrect of me at this point to engage in any further discussion on this question.
The question I asked was regarding the status of the report drawn up by the committee under Mr. Liam Lane, not on the status of the working party. Does the Minister agree with the recommendations contained in that report and, if so, does she intend to implement them?
The status of the report is that of a report of a working party set up under the last Government. Any new arrangements in respect of the staff at present engaged in the college will emerge from the discussions we are having with the union. I am not free at this point to engage in any further discussion on this question.
There is no money in the Estimates.
There is no money in the Estimates because there was no intake of new students either in 1986 or 1987.
In view of the fact that Question No. 11 is related to the question which is being replied to by the Minister at present, I would like to ask the Minister——
I am afraid that we cannot deal with Question No. 11 now, Deputy. You must wait until we reach it.
May I ask a supplementary question?
It was the Minister who——
The Chair is going in accordance with the Order Paper which is before him. The Deputy must wait until we reach Question No. 11.
May I ask a supplementary question on the question which is being replied to at present? In view of the very clear and implied commitments which were given by her in this House on 6 February and 4 March when she eulogized the contribution which had been made by Carysfort College as a teacher training college and the role of its principal, Sr. Regina Durkan, does the Minister not acknowledge that in her first year of office she has not seen fit to accommodate the enrolment of trainee teachers at this time?
As the Deputy was an honourable Member of the other House he may not be aware that the decision to withdraw recognition from Carysfort College as a college of education for primary teachers was conveyed to the college authorities in February 1986 by the previous Minister for Education.