Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 4 Dec 1969

Vol. 243 No. 3

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Matriculation Programme.

107.

Mr. Ryan

asked the Minister for Education the result of the request to the Senate of National University of Ireland and to the Board of Trinity College to discuss the non-inclusion with effect from 1971 of certain subjects of the leaving certificate course in the matriculation course; whether discussions have yet taken place; if so, with what result; if the universities have given any reasons for the exclusion of any subjects; and if they have explained why they did not have prior and timely consultation with the Department and representatives of post-primary schools.

108.

Mr. Ryan

asked the Minister for Education if, having regard to the serious injury to the welfare of secondary school students caused by the failure of the Senate of the National University of Ireland to have timely and full consultations with secondary school authorities and his Department in advance of the senate's ex parte decision to exclude the leaving certificate courses in commerce, botany, physics, chemistry, musicianship and plant and animal husbandry for matriculation purposes, he will introduce legislation or take other steps to negative such action on the part of the university authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Mr. Faulkner

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 108 together.

Arrangements have been made for a joint committee representing my Department and the school associations to meet the university authorities in the near future in regard to the non-inclusion of certain subjects of the leaving certificate course in the matriculation programme. Pending the outcome of these discussions I consider that I should say nothing further in the matter.

Dr. FitzGerald

Can the Minister say whether in fact, when these new subjects were introduced by his Department, his Department consulted with the universities and sought their agreement to their being matriculation subjects and, if so, what were the results of those consultations?

Mr. Faulkner

There were discussions about a year ago, I think, with both university authorities but the authorities of NUI simply made their own decision and, in fact, did not tell the Department what the decision was until they had informed the post-primary schools.

Mr. R. Burke

Is it not an interesting situation that representatives of the university were present at the syllabus committees which drew up these subjects, and would not one envisage that they would have brought it back to the universities and would have agreed that the standard was high enough for them to accept? Does it not place the schools in a very difficult position——

Mr. Faulkner

It certainly does.

Mr. R. Burke

——to have to stop in midstream and take off, for example, the commercial subjects, with disruption of classes and timetables for students and teachers? I think the Minister should protest very strongly to all the authorities.

Mr. Faulkner

I am very perturbed about the situation. I would hope that the deputation which will now meet the universities on this matter will get a reasonable hearing.

Dr. FitzGerald

Can the Minister say when these consultations ended, when the universities took the decision, and when they notified the decision?

Mr. Faulkner

I have not got the information with regard to all of that. What I know is that it is approximately a year since the discussions took place between my Department and the universities and that in the case of the NUI the decision has been notified recently to the post-primary schools and to my Department.

109.

Mr. Coogan

asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware that an Irish-speaking boy who passed the leaving certificate examination in five matriculation subjects, with three honours, has been refused entry to University College, Galway, with a view to pursuing courses in Irish; and that this refusal is on the grounds that these five subjects did not include English; and whether he will consult with the university authorities with a view to eliminating this obstacle to university entry by Irish speakers.

Mr. Faulkner

The matriculation conditions for entry to any of the constituent Colleges of the National University of Ireland are laid down by the Senate of the University. This is an autonomous statutory body and its decision in such matters as the conditions governing matriculation is final.

Mr. Coogan

Do I take it that the Minister is now standing over the situation in which, due to Fianna Fáil policy, a young man who passed his examination for entry into a college cannot now get higher education?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

That does not seem to arise.

Mr. Faulkner

The type of supplementary asked by the Deputy is hardly meant or calculated to be helpful to the young man concerned. I am sure the Deputy is aware that the majority of students in the Gaeltacht areas pass in English. I have considerable sympathy with what is involved in the Deputy's question and I will make this known to the authorities of the NUI.

Mr. Coogan

That being so, may I ask the Minister has this man not got his constitutional right under Article 8 which says that the Irish language is the national language and the first language? It is the only language through which this young man has been taught. He dare not speak English in the area he comes from. I should like this brought home to the authorities. Due to Fianna Fáil policy this young man has been deprived——

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Coogan

I will rub their noses in it.