asked the Minister for Education the conditions for the issue of free school books to necessitous children; and if the children of medical card-holders are entitled to priority over better-off children.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free School Books.
52.
The condition for assistance under the free books scheme for necessitous pupils is that the school principal be satisfied that there is genuine hardship in the pupil's home. Possession of a medical card is of course a factor which the principal may take into consideration when assessing individual cases.
Would the Minister be surprised to hear that the principal of a school said medical cards have nothing whatever to do with this?
Medical cards certainly have something to do with it, but not everything to do with it.
Can I assure this good lady, when she quotes to me 10/68/RR/100/400 which, she says, the Minister has sent to all teachers telling them how the books should be distributed, that she is completely misinterpreting the circular?
I do not understand.
Neither do I, but the good lady is the principal of a school and she should know something about it. She has quoted this circular to me as the reason why necessitous children are not getting books, books to which I believe they are entitled. She also says the Minister is not giving them enough money. Since I have brought the matter to the Minister's notice, perhaps the Minister would give me some further information at his convenience?
Certainly I will but I wish to point out that the medical card is a factor to which some weight may be given when assessing individual cases.
This is a family of nine children. The breadwinner has been ill for a number of years and is in possession of a medical card. Should not those children, then, be entitled to consideration for free books?
I shall not pronounce judgment on the case but if the Deputy will forward the details of it to me I will have it considered.
Should the Minister not publish the criteria which principals of schools should have available in applying the means test for free school books? Many parents and teachers, too, seem to be confused as to who are entitled to free school books.
The principal teacher in a school has to make this decision which is based on such circumstances as children coming from a home where genuine hardship exists because of unemployment or prolonged illness of the parents or where there is a large family with inadequate means. There are various other factors also but basically the matter is one for principal teachers to decide.
Is there no chance of transferring the responsibility to the Department?
I do not think so.
Is it not undesirable that the principal of a national school has to apply a social means test in respect of necessitous pupils? Should there not be some definite criteria by which pupils are not entitled to free books rather than leaving it to principals to decide who should be entitled?
I do not know of anybody who could assess such a situation better than the principal teacher.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.