asked the Minister for Education if he will sanction scholarships to second-year students for third level education.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Student Scholarships.
43.
Scholarships to students who wish to pursue courses of study in regional technical colleges are awarded on a competitive basis on the results of the leaving certificate examination and on interview. A scholarship may not be awarded to an applicant who does not qualify for one on this basis.
Is the Minister aware that the terms laid down by the Kildare Vocational Committee when they were framing this scholarship scheme would not preclude this type of student? How does the Minister reconcile the fact that a student whose parents paid for his education for one year in a regional college now finds himself in a much more disadvantageous position than a student who takes a job and earns a lot of money before starting his first year? Does the Minister not accept that that is very wrong?
This is a very long supplementary.
The Minister has excluded the students we had hoped to cater for when framing the scholarship scheme.
Mr. R. Burke
The exclusion took place in 1971-72 when a number of vocational education committees sought approval for the award of scholarships to second year students. The reason why it is regarded as inevitable that a change should be made is that it would be invidious if second year students were to be given scholarships at the expense of first year students for whose benefit the scholarship scheme was introduced. The hallmark of this scheme is the competitive element which was introduced in 1971-72.
The Minister in his first reply mentioned that an interview would be required. As I stated when making my contribution on the Minister's Estimate I find it hard to understand the reason for holding an interview when it is the intention to find out, for example, the qualifications of a student for science or institutional cookery. How could anybody arising out of an interview decide which student is most entitled to a scholarship?
Mr. R. Burke
The answer to the Deputy's query is that the stipulations of the scheme were set down by my predecessor and the Deputy's queries should have been raised at that time.
Does the Minister approve of them?
Mr. R. Burke
Certainly I do because——
Then the Minister should stand on his own feet.
Order.
Mr. R. Burke
——it is on a competitive basis.
I should like to ask the Minister if it is his intention to alter that scheme to cater for his own innovation in equating Irish with two honours?
That is a separate question and I am calling Question No. 44.
I do not know how it could be described as a separate question.
The Chair has called Question No. 44 and the Chair will not be argued with on matters like this.
On a point of order, I wish to address the Chair. If the Minister, in replying, is in order to refer to matters that do not arise from the question, surely I am entitled to put to the Minister a question arising out of the information which the Minister has given to the House.
The Chair has regard to the question and the subject matter of the question.
Would the Minister set a standard so that all students who wish to go to regional technical colleges and reach that standard would then be passed?
Mr. R. Burke
This would mean to alter the basis of the scheme. It is not an open-ended scheme such as that of the higher education grants. This, in effect, answers the question put by the previous Deputy also. It is not my intention to change the competitive nature of the scheme.