As I said a few minutes ago, we all appreciate the difficulties of the times. The remarks of the Minister just now, with regard to the possibility of making loans available for the development of technical and continuation education, are, to me, most disappointing. It might be as well if the opportunity were taken now or the opportunity sought in the very near future, to indicate to vocational committees throughout the country to what extent they are going to be facilitated in their work. I am thinking particularly of the Gaeltacht areas. We have, with a considerable amount of satisfaction, agreed to the setting up of Aireacht na Gaeltachta. That Department will find many fields in which to work, but no field more urgently calling for attention than the field of education, and particularly technical and vocational education.
All I can say is that the committee for which I am speaking now, and which is responsible for such a large Gaeltacht area, and for such a large Breac-Ghaeltacht area, will feel very disappointed at the Minister's statement. As I said already, I believe it is false economy to be saving and to be cheese-paring on education and, above all, I believe it is false economy to be saving on technical and vocational education. I hope the Minister will give further thought to this matter and see that these committees get something more in the way of financial assistance than they have been getting or are likely to get, according to the statement the Minister has just made.