Vol. 372 No. 1
asked the Minister for Education if she will give details of the cuts in teaching services for children of travelling people as announced by her at the Teachers Union of Ireland Conference on 22 April 1987; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
647.
asked the Minister for Education if she will give details of the cuts in teaching services for prisoners' education as announced by her at the Teachers Union of Ireland Conference on 22 April 1987.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 646 and 647 together.
It is a misunderstanding to imply that I have announced cuts in specific services. In notifying the vocational education committees of their second-level financial allocations for the current year, my Department have emphasised that the following services must be maintained within approved allocations, if necessary at the expense of other activities:—
(a) Essential second-level school services including administration of the school transport scheme; and
(b) Vocational Preparation and Training and Middle-Level Technician Programmes which attract counterpart EEC funding.
I have emphasised that the hard financial facts require that committees manage within the allocation made for 1987 — even if other services which we would all regard as desirable, including those mentioned, have to be curtailed this year.
