asked the Minister for Education the number of teachers' centres he proposes to establish in the country; and the amount of money being allocated for a centre under each of the following headings: (1) centres catering for less than 300 teachers, (2) centres catering for 300 to 600 teachers and (3) heat equipment, lighting, cleaning and rent.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teachers' Centres.
29.
My proposals with regard to teachers' centres are that, in the current year, 12 such centres will be opened—four of these have, in fact, already been opened and are in operation—and that the number will be gradually increased in the coming years as circumstances permit and in the light of the experience gained from the centres already opened.
Present indications are that about 30 centres in all would meet requirements but I am keeping an open mind in the matter.
At the present stage I am not in a position to give the specific information requested by the Deputy but it is my intention that the centres will be so organised and will so operate as to serve fully the purposes for which they are intended, and that sufficient funds will be provided to that end.
Would the Minister answer the question, please, and say how much money is being allocated for a centre under each of the headings mentioned? In other words, how much per cent is he giving to centres catering for less than 300 teachers?
I have pointed out in my reply that I am unable at the moment to give the statistics requested by Deputy Begley.
This is quite wrong.
Have the Department not notified people that they are giving a grant of only £100 towards these centres?
It is in writing.
It is in writing.
I have not got the information.
Surely, if the Minister can give the information to teachers, he can give it to this House?
I have not got the information.
How is it possible that any group of teachers who want to join a centre can have the information?
Is the Minister saying that an official of his Department, without authority from him or without his knowledge, has written to say that these teachers' centres, so much vaunted in the education debate here this year, can have only £100 a year for rent, light, heat and cleaning? Is he saying that that has been done and he does not know about it? Who is running the Department?
What the Deputy can be assured of is that these centres are greatly appreciated by the teachers concerned.
At £100 a year for rent, heating, lighting and cleaning and the Minister did not know about it. Who is running the Department?
I can appreciate the annoyance of the Deputy. What I am concerned about is whether or not the teachers appreciate he fact that these centres have been made available. The teachers, in fact, are very satisfied with what I am doing.
I am calling Question No. 30.
At £100 a year and the Minister did not even know this.
Does the Minister know that the allocation for those centres is not sufficient?
It is not. That is the whole point. That is what causes the frustration.
Perhaps the Deputy would like to visit some of the centres which are already in operation and ask the teachers there what they think about them.
At £100 a year for rent, heating, lighting and cleaning. Tell us what centre is operating on that.