asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the farreaching proposals contained in the document entitled Community Schools, he will hold a public inquiry into the matter so that interested parties may have their views considered.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Community Schools Document.
28.
There could be no question of a public inquiry being called for in relation to a matter such as this. The document concerned is, as I have already explained to this House, a working document which will be fully considered by all the interested parties as an exercise in the evolution of a policy which is designed to provide equal educational opportunity for all the children of the nation.
Can the Minister say to whom the document was circulated and if comments were invited from those to whom it was sent?
To date the document has been sent to the Catholic hierarchy and the IVEA. I have had discussions with both these groups and I propose to have discussions with all other groups before coming to any conclusions in relation to this.
Does the Minister not think it was a somewhat haphazard method of getting views by restricting the document to the hierarchy and the other group he mentioned? Would he not consider sending it to all teaching organisations in order to get their comments on it?
As the Deputy is aware, the document was not intended for publication and because of the manner in which it was published it met with an emotional response. I was concerned at the time with particular general problems and I felt at that stage we could deal with the general problems at the level of the hierarchy because the schools I had in mind were all Catholic schools. I then felt as the other body was the controlling body in relation to vocational education that I should consult with them and after that I proposed to consult with all the other bodies.
Is the Minister further aware that certain school authorities found that officials of his Department, accompanied by outside experts or officials, visited these schools without any communication with them? They are concerned with this method of approach. In view of the anxiety caused by all this will he not consider a general inquiry or alternatively a general circulation of the document?
When I became aware that notices were sent out to a number of schools I had these notices withdrawn until such time as I had time to have the whole matter fully discussed.
Did the Minister say what discussions "have been" or "will be" held with the Catholic hierarchy and the VEA?
Discussions have been held but there will be more discussions.
Could the Minister give any indication of the outcome of discussions to date? Surely, on a matter of this nature, he could give some indication as to what the general reaction is, in the national interest.
I do not think I should discuss these matters at this stage. In fact, had this document not been published, discussions would be going on in the normal way with all the different groups. It is only when we had finalised a document which would be, as far as possible, satisfactory to all interested parties, that such normal public discussion would take place.
In view of the many misconceptions surrounding the document and the unfortunate way in which it was circulated, would the Minister agree to send the document to all secondary school authorities throughout the country seeking their observations and comments on the document in view of the relatively tenuous links between secondary teaching organisations, religious orders and the hierarchy itself?
Of course, I intend consulting with the various heads of orders and with others concerned on the managerial side. I also intend consulting with the teaching bodies. Because of the rather emotional situation which arose originally I think it would be preferable to have the discussions we are having in a calm atmosphere.
(Cavan): The Minister is seeking to impose this policy on the town of Cavan without consulting anybody in an area in which the situation is very delicate, due to the substantial number of the religious minority there. He is imposing this policy against the wishes of the religious minority and against the wishes of the Cavan Vocational Education Committee. Does the Minister not agree this is highly undesirable?
I want to make it clear I am not imposing this policy on anybody. I do not think it would be proper at this stage to discuss an individual case.
(Interruptions.)
I am calling Question No. 29.
My basic consideration is to try to provide equal educational opportunities for all children and this is what I am doing.
(Cavan): The Minister will be here on the Adjournment one night very soon.
With all the views expressed here and elsewhere does the Minister not think an inquiry might be the most satisfactory way of getting the views considered?
I do not think so. I think we would possibly land ourselves into another emotional situation.
A Deputy
The Minister has made a mess of it.
The Minister has not made a mess of it.