asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that at present facilities provided by Comhairle le Leas Óige which operates under section 21 (2) of the Vocational Education Act, 1930, do not extend to County Dublin or Dún Laoghaire; and if he will make funds available so that facilities may be extended to County Dublin and Dún Laoghaire such as are at present available within the County Borough of Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Comhairle Le Leas Óige.
106.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply of 13th February, 1969, concerning this matter.
Is the Minister aware that Dún Laoghaire and County Dublin are discriminated against at present? Perhaps he would consider making a grant available so that the Comhairle le Leas Óige service could be provided outside the borough area —I mean outside the city borough?
I appreciate what the Deputy has in mind. Discussions took place on this and it was decided that the city group could help in the other areas but that no extra money could be given for that purpose. This year An Chomhairle received a grant of £53,890 which is £17,630 more than last year. Perhaps they might wish to help but no specific grants are made available for the areas mentioned by the Deputy.
Do I take it that the Minister and his Department have no objection to some of that money being made available to Dún Laoghaire and County Dublin if the committee are prepared to do so?
Provided An Chomhairle in the city area agree.
Are An Chomhairle supposed to cover the whole of the city and county?
No, just the city.
Could the Minister say what his reluctance is to have it extended to the county, as it is extremely difficult to distinguish between the city and the county in most of the outlying areas, in the suburbs, because on one side of the street you have the city and on the other the county?
I am sure that in cases where there is such close proximity something is being done. In fact I imagine that is why the Department feels that if the city committee were agreeable to help this could be done.
Because the three areas are intermingled at certain points anyway.