asked the Minister for Education whether he proposes to act on the recommendnations in the report on adult education.
21.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Adult Education Report.
20.
asked the Minister for Education if and when the Government propose to implement the recommendations and expressed opinion of the committee set up by the Government to carry out a survey of adult education facilities; if he will comment on the serious problem of semi-illiteracy in this country; and if he will make a general statement on the matter.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 21 together.
This report on adult education is an interim report. Before taking any decisions on the recommendations it will be necessary to seek the views of the various interested parties and steps have been taken to secure these views.
In relation to the reference to semi-literacy in Deputy Flanagan's question, I can only conclude that the Deputy has not read the report. I would recommend to him to read pages 19 and 20 of the report before coming to any conclusions.
Is it not a fact that the greatest evidence we have to support the commission's contention of semi-literacy in our midst is the fact that Fianna Fáil have been so long in office? What more evidence is required?
I would say to the Deputy that the Fianna Fáil Party policy is responsible for the fact that the people of this country are highly literate.
They are not in the Fianna Fáil Party.
Which Fianna Fáil Party is the Minister talking about?
Will the Deputy tell me to what part of the Labour Party he belongs?
He told us the other night.
Does the Minister visualise setting up a national adult education authority at any stage following his discussions with the interested bodies?
When I have had discussions with the interested parties I will decide on that.
The Minister thinks then there is a possibility?
I am not saying that at the moment. I am waiting until I have had these discussions.
Question No. 22.
The Minister has not answered my supplementary question. Is it not a very sad commentary on the long period which Fianna Fáil have been in office, in charge of education, that we have this report indicating in our midst a very serious situation of semi-literacy? Is the Minister proud of that report?
The report referred to functional illiteracy. It is obvious to me——
That is what some members of the Government suffer from.
——that Deputy Flanagan has never heard of free education, free school transport, free post-primary education, grants to university students. It is also clear to me——
And no schools.
And no teachers for a lot of the schools.
——that Deputy Flanagan has forgotten that the final act of the last Coalition was to reduce grants to post-primary schools.
(Interruptions.)
Question No. 22.