asked the Minister for Education if he will give details of his Department's involvement in the Loughan House, County Cavan project, specifically (a) the membership and structure of any joint or interdepartmental committee in which officers of his Department may be involved; (b) the number of teachers to be employed; (c) the subject areas to be taught; and (d) who will have on-the-spot responsibility for the administration of educational services in the institution.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Loughan House Detention Centre .
14.
: I do not consider that it would be appropriate for me to give details of internal arrangements for consultation between officials of my Department and of the Department of Justice on matters of common concern in relation to Loughan House.
Final decisions have not yet been made in regard to the extent, range and other aspects of the educational services to be provided. The arrangements must necessarily be flexible as they may be expected to be affected by variations in the number of children in residence from time to time.
: Can the Minister not even tell us if he is in consultation with any other Department at this time about educational facilities to be provided in Loughan House and what Departments these are?
: The Minister is satisfied that in so far as an obligation falls on him in the educational sphere, that obligation will be discharged fully.
: Part (d) of my question asks who will have on-the-spot responsibility for the administration of educational services in the institution. Will it be the Minister, a VEC or an individual on the spot?
: The vocational education committee will be responsible for the recruitment of teachers.
: Will they be responsible for the administration?
: The vocational education committee will have responsibility for whatever educational input there is in Loughan House.
: Is it a fact that the project has got to a very advanced stage according to the Minister for Justice and that we cannot have even the provisional details of the question put down by Deputy Horgan in relation to the numbers of teachers, the subjects and so on?
: That is a separate question. Question No. 15.
: The Deputy has a question down on this matter.
: Yes, but it is different from Deputy Horgan's.
: I am calling Question No. 15.
: So far as part (b) of Deputy Horgan's question is concerned, they are the same. Deputy Browne's supplementary was a bit formless. If, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle he will repeat it, I will try to reply to him.
: Parts (b) and (c) of Deputy Horgan's question refer to the number of teachers to be employed and the subjects to be taught and (d) refers to who will have on-the-spot responsibility for the administration. Surely all that should be settled at this point?
: When I come to reply to Deputy Browne's question some of those points will be dealt with.
: When is it due to open?
: That is a question for the Department of Justice.
: Question No. 15.
: I am taking this question because it is not a special school. If it were a special school it would be my total responsibility or the responsibility of the Minister of State.
: Would the Minister prefer if it were a special school?
: That Deputy Horgan is concerned about the Minister's preference is very touching.