andMr. M.P. Murphy asked the Minister for Educaties caused to pupils and parents by the tion if he is aware of the many difficullate date of the announcement of the results of the post-primary scholarship examinations; and if he will take steps to ensure that in future years these results will be issued at an earlier date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Post-Primary Scholarship Examinations.
48.
I am satisfied that the results of the scholarship examinations are issued in ample time by my Department to enable county and borough councils to have awards made well in advance of the opening of schools in September. Any hold up in that regard has been due to delay in the submission of correct awards to my Department for sanction.
Will the Minister not agree that it is necessary to book at some of these residential schools well in advance of the opening date? Will he not further agree that a number of parents cannot book in advance because their children cannot avail of the facilities afforded by the school unless they get a scholarship? This applies to children of poor parents who are unable to avail of secondary education in residential schools unless they get a scholarship. Pending the outcome of the examination results, provisional booking cannot be made. Surely, in such circumstances, the Minister will agree that results should be made available at least three weeks or a month earlier than at present in order to facilitate such parents? The question does not arise at all so far as people with plenty of money are concerned because, irrespective of whether or not the children get a scholarship, they can go to the school. We have a significant number of such cases in Cork.
I am aware that the question deals with scholarships and also that all the awards were finally approved in my Department within one week of receipt from the local authorities of the proposed awards, except in one case, and that was in the case of Cork county. This may have coloured the Deputy's view on the matter. The delay in the case of Cork county went on for far too long and was due to the failure of the county council to submit accurate schemes of awards, as was done by the other county councils.
That is something that would bear examination. I am very doubtful of its accuracy.