asked the Minister for Education if discussions took place between officials of his Department and representatives of the Catholic educational authorities in relation to the assignment of special trainee teachers to colleges of education; and if such discussions were initiated by his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Special Trainee Teachers.
11.
Discussions were initiated by my Department with the authorities of all the colleges of education in relation to the original scheme for the employment of special trainee teachers in national schools and again later in regard to the revision of that scheme.
Would the Minister state whether it was as a result of the discussions initiated by his Department with the representative of the Catholic educational authorities that no student teachers were assigned on a full-time basis to the College of Education in Rathmines?
As I have already said, when we recruited the special trainee graduates we did not ask them what their religion was, if any. Secondly, no applicant asked for a place in the training college mentioned by the Deputy. Thirdly, all the training colleges are involved in the scheme for special trainee graduates. Dr. Milne of the Church of Ireland school is very pleased with this and he is pleased to be able to contribute. I am delighted that the scheme is going ahead satisfactorily despite the fact that I ran into some stormy waters.
Would the Minister agree that no students have been assigned permanently to the Church of Ireland Training College and will the Minister inform the House whether or not this was done at the behest of the Catholic educational authorities?
What behests the Catholic educational authorities make is their business. As Minister for Education my role in the matter is precisely as I have stated here.