asked the Minister for Education to outline the plans she has to ensure that school students in Counties Cavan, Sligo, Laois and Clare will be able to sit their public examinations which begin next week following the threat by school bus drivers to withdraw school transport because of the proposed pilot schemes in these areas.
Private Notice Question. - School Bus Drivers' Dispute.
Together with the Minister for Labour I am to meet the unions involved tomorrow to discuss the issues underlying the threat by school drivers to withdraw transport services.
Pending the outcome of this meeting I am not in a position to say what further action on my part will be necessary.
As you are aware, a Cheann Comhairle, this is my second attempt to raise this question and I thank you for allowing me to raise it today. Yesterday this question seemed to be of great urgency and today it is obviously of even greater urgency. Let me ask the Minister a number of supplementary questions. Can the Minister tell us why she did not meet these people late last night or this morning? It seems incredible that the meeting should be delayed until tomorrow. Secondly, as the group certificate is due to begin on Friday with the leaving certificate and intermediate certificate due to commence next Wednesday, 8 June, I would like the Minister at this point to assure parents and the students that they will be able to sit their examinations irrespective of the outcome of the meeting to be held tomorrow. That is the all-important question for the 5,000 people concerned in those counties.
In answer to the first part of the Deputy's supplementary question, let me tell the Deputy that the ICTU officials who requested the meeting had to make a visit somewhere else and the most convenient date for both the officials of the ICTU and the two Ministers involved was the date and time which has been fixed. It was a matter of mutual compatibility between ICTU and ourselves.
It does not suit the parents or the unfortunate students.
Naturally, there is no point in the two Ministers meeting to talk to themselves. The meeting had to be arranged at a convenient time and the officials of the ICTU wanted their delegation to be composed in a particular way and this took some working out. We are meeting them tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. That answers the first part of the Deputy's question.
That is disgraceful.
It is a matter of politeness that you seek to accommodate people who wish to meet you.
What about the distress which is being caused to students and parents?
Let us hear the Minister without interruption.
In reply to the second part of the Deputy's supplementary question, let me say that all concerned, the unions, my Department, the parents, with whom I have had informal discussions, and I are determined that the students will be brought to their examinations. I hope following our meeting tomorrow satisfactory arrangements will issue.
Naturally we all hope that the outcome of the meeting tomorrow will be satisfactory. What I am seeking now from the Minister is an assurance that those students will be able to sit their examinations and I would like her to tell us whether she has a plan for getting those students to their public examinations? I do not want the details of such a plan; all I want to know is whether there is a plan to get those students to their examinations. I would also like to know if the Minister will undertake to make alternative arrangements should any student not be able to reach the examination centre, for them to take that subject, perhaps in a different form, as quickly as possible so that they will not be disadvantaged in any way.
That is a very long question.
There are two questions which I wish to ask of the Minister. First, has she any plan for getting students to their examinations and, secondly, will she arrange alternative examinations? I would also like her to tell us whether she knew in advance that these redundancy notices were going to be issued to 93 workers?
Of course she did.
To answer the Deputy, I should say that of course the students of the country will be sitting their examinations and there will not be any need whatsoever for alternative examinations or venues. As I said, all concerned, unions and ourselves, are very anxious that this matter be resolved. I would hope that services will continue to operate as heretofore and that the meetings to be held tomorrow will be productive.
In answer to the Deputy's further question, I should say that the Minister for Finance has received a communication from the chairman of CIE stating that his company are co-operating fully in experimentation with pilot projects but that, from time to time. He also refers to the replacement of the bus scheme. A followon, is that CIE's arrangements with the Department of Education always have envisaged that their arrangments with us and ours with them would continue until the end of the examination period. I take great heart from the contents of the letter from the chairman of CIE.
No plan, obviously.
I am calling Deputy Nealon.
Is the Minister aware that the majority of the 23 drivers involved in County Sligo will not be in a position to tender because of the cost of the buses for the new ones? Is she also aware that, because of the years of service they have given in this capacity, many of them are of advancing age and will not be able to obtain alternative employment? Will the Minister bear this consideration in mind in her talks with ICTU? Will she also consider giving priority to these people in so far as working out some mechanism whereby they would be given at least first choice on these runs?
While, strictly speaking, the Deputy's supplementary does not come within the ambit of Deputy Hussey's question, I take the point he is making. I can assure him that it will be one of the issues we will discuss tomorrow.
I want to bring questions to a close but I should like to call Deputy Boylan and then a final supplementary from Deputy Hussey.
I am disappointed with the Minister's reply——
A question, please.
Can the Minister allay their fears now and say that, irrespective of what happens tomorrow, there will be transport provided for these children?
The Deputy must not have heard my reply.
I listened carefully.
In replying to Deputy Hussey I said quite clearly that, of course, the children of this country would be sitting their State examinations, as per normal, that there would be no need for supplementary examinations, different venues or whatever were the suggestions put forward by Deputy Hussey. Let me reiterate that everybody concerned, the unions, the Department, all of us, are at one that this should happen. I hope that will be the outcome following on our meeting tomorrow.
My constituency is involved also.
That may be so, but the Deputy will have to find another time to raise the matter. I want to dissuade Members from assuming they can debate the issue now. A final brief and relevant supplementary from Deputy Hussey.
As usual, the Minister is running away.
May I take it, therefore, that the Minister has given this House an assurance that all students in those four counties will be able to sit their examinations, when they begin, with all the other students in the country and that irrespective of tomorrow's talks that will happen?
This is the third time I have answered — Deputy Hussey, Deputy Boylan and now Deputy Hussey again——
So the Minister has a plan?
If the Deputy will allow me to finish — the Deputy asked me if the students of the country would sit their examinations in their appointed centres. The answer is: yes, the students sitting their group, intermediate and leaving certificates will sit their examinations in their appointed centres. I should say that all concerned, unions and Government, wish this to happen. That is the purpose of our meeting tomorrow.
I am glad the Minister has a plan.
That concludes questions for today.