asked the Minister for Education why he has decided to reduce the numbers of students for entry into the National College of Physical Education.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National College of Physical Education.
28.
It has been found that the combined output of the three-year and four-year courses which will result from admissions of 94, 50 and 36 in the years 1974, 1975 and 1976 will be sufficient for the number of positions estimated to become available in the schools in the years up to 1979-80.
Was it not originally intended to recruit 50 students this year in line with the number recruited last year and when it was found that out of the 50 some for one reason or another did not choose to pursue their applications the remaining places, the difference between 36 and 50, were not filled?
I have indicated to the Deputy that we are proceeding on the basis of trying to harmonise the number of those being trained in this college with the estimated number of posts being available in the three- or four-year period running up to the end of this decade.
I must not have expressed myself clearly. It is my information that initially it was intended to recruit 50 students this year. Of the 50 who were notified approximately 14 indicated they did not wish to pursue the course. I am asking the Minister why he changed his mind since he originally notified the number of vacancies there would be?
I understand it is the custom to offer places in the college in excess of the number mentioned by the Deputy. It is true that the number of confirmed acceptances was less than 50 and that of these a smaller number registered with the college and of the final number a further six have withdrawn. It is not that there is a reluctance on the part of the Department of Education to fill those places but that of those who had confirmed acceptance—not all registered—some registered and then withdrew.
If the Minister is saying there is not a reluctance on the part of the Department of Education, surely there must be many other applicants who would have been next in line who could have been called upon or invited to fill the places which were not taken up by the 14 people, or thereabouts. If the Department are not reluctant there seems to be no reason why the remaining 14 places should not be filled. Unless the position has changed, there must be a huge number of young boys and girls who are anxious to get into the National School of Physical Education.
The number of applications for entry into Thomond College vastly exceeds the number of places available obviously. I want to assure the House and the Deputy that every effort is made to harmonise the number of those being trained with the possible number of places available for employment. I should like to remind the House that these are specialised teachers, as the Deputy very well knows, and it would be socially undesirable that we should train specialised teachers and not provide some reasonable hope for their employment in the years ahead.
Question No. 29.
The Minister has not answered my question as to why the Department changed their views after the original notification of 50 places this year. That is what concerns the students. The Minister referred to specialist teachers. Surely the Minister is aware that the whole purpose of the establishment of this college was to ensure that these teachers who would have specialist qualifications in physical education would also have special qualifications in at least one other subject and therefore could be employed as fully qualified teachers. I presume that is still the case.
That is still the case.
They are not only teachers of physical education.
I want to deal with another question. Question No. 29.
Surely the Deputy realises that the original intention was that the teachers in question would have a subject which they might teach in a major way in their teaching careers at a point at which they had ceased to be good teachers of physical education. I do not want to spell out what that is.
It is obvious that the Department are running down the college.
Since we have decided to extend it to the tune of £1.7 million that could not in any reasonable sense be regarded as running it down.
How many specialities are allowed? Have they been cut down from 13 to four?
As the Deputy knows, the special classes would range from physical education to rural science, woodwork, metalwork and so on.