asked the Minister for Education if he will amend the provisions of section 8 of the Vocational Education Act, 1930, to ensure adequate representation of teachers and students on vocational education committees.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - VEC Teacher Representatives.
6.
There is no proposal for an amendment of section 8 of the Vocational Act, 1908, on the lines suggested being considered by me at the present time.
The question relates to the Act of 1930, but the Minister's reply referred to the 1908 Act.
I referred to section 8 of the Vocational Act, 1930.
Have not times changed so much that it is long overdue we would get some democratic representation? That Act was a valuable development of vocational education at the time but it is overdue now that teachers and students get representation on these bodies.
I am sure the Deputy is not unaware of the fact that already the TUI have fair representation on the different committees. The city of Dublin VEC enjoy the membership of three TUI members. As a member of TUI I was happy to have been a member of the committee. These teachers are not there by reason of their association with the TUI. They were elected as public representatives and they were therefore not precluded from serving on the VEC. Perhaps the advance is not to the extent that the Deputy would wish but I can tell him that at the moment there are 39 vocational teachers serving on VECs.
I am glad to hear it, but does the Minister not agree that there is a discrepancy between the attitude to the teaching profession and, say, to the medical profession who seem to be able to get representation as of right because of their professional standing? Does he not agree this kind of privilege should be extended to the teaching profession, a very highly respected profession in the community?
There are committees other than VECs in respect of which teachers, by right because they are teachers, qualify for membership to a large degree to the same extent as members of the medical profession. I do not think any members of the medical profession are guaranteed membership of the VECs unless they have been elected to local authorities.
I was referring to institutions like hospitals with which a medical practitioner might be associated. We discussed this thing with the Minister for Health during the debate on a recent Bill. Doctors seem to have a pre-emptive right which is not extended to members of the other profession.
As a member of the teaching profession I should not like to think that another profession enjoyed privileges which were not also given to the teaching profession. I will make some inquiries in the matter.
People who are members of these committees represent the total community, including parents and teachers.
They do and I note that the vocational teachers who have been elected as public representatives act in that capacity as well and, of course, they have the additional bonus of having special qualifications from the point of view of education.
Questions Nos. 7 to 15, inclusive, are being postponed.
On a point of order, my reason for asking that these questions be postponed is that the Minister is not here. I take severe exception to his continued absence from the House. It is an insult to this House.
That is not a point of order. Ceist a 16.