andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Education in what way the broad basis of the programme in the new comprehensive schools will differ from that at present available in a vocational school.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - New Comprehensive Schools.
81.
My statement of which the Deputies received a copy makes it clear that the programme will differ very much both in relation to scope and content.
82.
andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Education whether the managing authority of the comprehensive schools will differ in any way from that in control of the vocational schools.
83.
andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Education who the managers of the proposed comprehensive schools will be.
A Cheann Comhairle, I propose, with your permission, to take Questions Nos. 82 and 83 together. I would refer the Deputies to my reply of 28th May in regard to the management of these schools.
The Minister did not make quite clear who the appointing authority will be in relation to the management of the school. Is it the Civil Service Commission or the governing body?
I imagine the committee of management would be the authority.
84.
andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Education what are his proposals for providing the necessary additional teacher training for the effective operation of the extended school facilities.
I would refer the Deputies to my reply of the 28th May, in relation to this matter.
85.
andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Education whether the new schools will be paid for from rates or central funds, or from both; and, if they are paid from both sources, in what proportions.
I would refer the Deputies to paragraph 21 of my statement which deals with this matter.
86.
andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Education what level of means of the parents or other factors will be taken into account in determining whether a child may avail itself free of direct charge of the education to be provided at the proposed comprehensive schools.
This is another of the matters which will be determined when the results of the detailed surveys are available.
Has the Minister made up his mind irrevocably, particularly in the absence of having completed the survey?
I imagine there certainly will be some areas where the fee will be nominal, if there is any fee. I would remind the Deputy that it is important to make facilities available first. This could be obstructed because of seeking to establish some principle.
Is it not very important that the basic principles underlying the scheme should be understood, together with the reasons why the Minister has arrived at those basic principles? If he is not able to explain, is it then because of absence of facts and because he has not completed the surveys?
To do what is possible is my job and not to have the whole matter upset because of some supposed principle or ideal.