asked the Minister for Education if with reference to a reply of 29th September [No. 28] he is now in a position to state (a) the number of new secondary schools, new vocational schools, extensions to secondary schools and/or vocational schools which will be ready to receive new pupils in September 1967; (b) the space which will be available and the number of pupils likely to be received therein; (c) the number of additional teachers available in September 1967; (d) if all fees to vocational schools will be abolished at from September 1967; (e) if schools now receiving fees from parents will at the parents' option receive those fees from the State; (f) if the provision of text-books will be subject to a means test; (g) if the additional building and staff will be available in UCD, UCC and UCG by September 1967, and (h) if the total cost of all these matters is yet estimated.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Post-Primary Educational Facilities.
As I told the Deputy in reply to his previous question, I will give full details of my new scheme to the House when introducing the Estimate for my Department.
Is it the position that the Minister has the information now to enable him to answer this question, but chooses to wait until the Estimate?
Mr. O'Malley
I have a great deal of the information asked for here but there has been criticism from time to time in relation to Ministers not giving information here to the House and I thought the best thing to do was to wait for the most appropriate occasion on which we could have a proper debate on this and that most appropriate occasion appeared to me to be when my Estimate comes up for discussion. I have some of the information, but not all.
The Minister has not all the information?
Mr. O'Malley
Not it all.
The Minister made his speech—in September, was it?
Mr. O'Malley
I know what the Deputy is going to suggest—that that speech was made without the facts. These are the details of the speech.
These are very relevant facts.
Mr. O'Malley
Some of them are not.
The answers to some of these questions are certainly relevant.
Mr. O'Malley
Some of them are.
But the Minister has not got the information in full at the moment?
Mr. O'Malley
In some cases.
When does the Minister propose to have the Estimate?
Mr. O'Malley
When some people stop talking and more people talk longer—you never know.
I hope the Minister is not referring to the Minister for Transport and Power.
Mr. O'Malley
The Estimates have to be passed before the Christmas Recess.