asked the Minister for Education whether, in view of the need to give a trade or skilled occupation to the maximum number of young people, he will request each vocational committee to prepare a complete scheme for the provision of facilities for whole-time vocational education in its area, to be carried through within a maximum period of ten years; and if he will recommend that county vocational committees should extend the scheme of travelling scholarships to cover payment of transport costs of students travelling from remote areas to vocational schools, and that fees for wholetime vocational courses should be abolished when courses are begun by students before the age of 15 years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Vocational Education.
Vocational education committees, having regard to the limited moneys which can be made available to them, are progressing satisfactorily with plans for the provision of facilities for whole-time vocational education in their areas and attendance at courses of such education is increasing each year. Committees, while not empowered to pay students' transport costs as such, are making reasonable provision for scholarships of various kinds. On the other hand, the fees charged for whole-time courses are very reasonable and cannot, in any way, be considered a barrier to attendance. I do not therefore feel called upon to make the request or recommendations referred to in the question.