Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 21 Feb 1929

Vol. 28 No. 2

Public Business. - Secondary Education—Vote 47.

Mr. Fitzgerald

I move:—

Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £9,500 chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1929, chun Meadhon-Oideachais, maraon le Deontas Thuarastal na Múinteoirí, Deontas Ceanntsraithe agus Méaduithe Tuarastail do Mhúinteoirí Meadhon-Scoileanna.

That a sum not exceeding £9,500 be granted to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1929, for Secondary Education, including the Teachers' Salaries Grant, Capitation Grant and Increments of Salary to Secondary School Teachers.

Professor O'Sullivan

As Deputy Fahy has pointed out, practically the same cause is responsible for this Supplementary Estimate. It is impossible, as anybody who knows the situation will appreciate, to estimate at the beginning of the year quite accurately as to what the attendance at secondary schools will be. For a couple of years we did overestimate to the extent of £12,000 or £13,000. This year the attendance has exceeded expectations, with the result that the capitation grants will have to be increased; and that is also responsible for the excess of £1,250 under sub-head B—"Increments of Salaries"—because there will be a larger number of recognised teachers in the schools as a result of the increased attendance.

Mr. Fahy

What is exactly referred to in A (3)—"Grant for Irish and Bilingual Schools"? What Irish schools are they? Not that I am opposing the Vote.

Professor O'Sullivan

I take that for granted. There are certain schools, as the Deputy knows, in which we give a special increment, so to speak, to the capitation grant, schools where they teach the subjects through Irish. These would be A 1 schools. Then there are B 1 and B 2, in which there are a certain number of subjects taught through Irish. They get a certain percentage also on the capitation grant. There were more schools actually certified for the reception of the grant than we anticipated.

Mr. Briscoe

In connection with B—"Increments of Salaries"—that does not include losses sustained by the Department in any shape or form?

Professor O'Sullivan

No.

Mr. Briscoe

The Minister will recollect that I asked a question on the last day of the last session, but as it was a Friday I could not put a supplementary question.

Professor O'Sullivan

The question did not at all convey the suggestion that is now put forward.

Mr. Briscoe

I asked a question then which referred to delay in paying these increments of salary.

Professor O'Sullivan

Quite so.

Mr. Briscoe

I had in mind that this delay arose out of the fact that a certain official had decamped with a substantial sum of money.

Professor O'Sullivan

That is not the explanation for the delay at all.

Question put and agreed to.