asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the fact that the school year is more than half over and that would-be candidates, their teachers and parents are anxious to know the conditions attaching to the award of university scholarships by local authorities, he will consider allowing local authorities to publish schemes for 1968 substantially similar to the 1967 schemes, but with the scholarships increased in number and in amount within the limits of the extra financial provision made by local authorities for 1968.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - University Scholarships.
59.
I appreciate the necessity to inform all interested parties at the earliest possible date of the conditions under which grants to students for courses in higher education will be awarded. I will be asking the House today for permission to introduce the necessary legislation. The Bill to deal with the matter will be circulated shortly afterwards.
County and borough councils can then proceed with the preparation of revised schemes. When the Bill is circulated, the Deputy will appreciate why it would not be possible to proceed on the lines suggested by him.
Will this legislation be in time for the coming year?
It will. I am introducing the legislation after Question Time today.
Does the Minister not appreciate that some counties have submitted schemes to his Department? All they require is permission to increase the amount of the scholarships. Is the Minister prepared to do that so that they can now benefit from the legislation?
The local authorities have been informed by my Department that as far as we are concerned in the legislation their contributions will be frozen in the next year on last year's figures, 1967-68. Any student grants over and above that level, provided they pass a standard which will be made by order by me under the legislation, will be paid. Any subsequent grants the costs of which are over and above the amount contributed by the central authorities last year will be contributed by the Central Fund.
That must have been done yesterday because the local authority on which I have the honour to serve were not so informed. Does the Minister not agree that in view of the fact that this must be decided between now and the next five weeks it is impossible to have legislation passed in time? Does he not agree that the sensible thing is to allow it to go along for this year and allow the legislation to cover subsequent years?
We will in the coming year have over 800 students provided for in the scheme as against 275 last year.
I am talking about the coming year. Surely the Minister appreciates that the leaving certificate, on which most of this is based, will take place in June, and there is no way of having scholarships for this year unless the Minister gives authority now. They have already got authority to go on last year's figures. All that is being asked is that the amount should be increased for this year.
The Deputy does not appreciate what I am saying. What the Deputy suggests would restrict the operation of the scheme. What I am proposing to do is that every student, according to a certain means level, who passes a certain standard, irrespective of what county he is in, will be entitled to a free educational grant paid out of the Central Fund over and above what the local authorities' contributions were last year. This will be written into legislation which I will be introducing after Questions and which will be circulated in the next ten days. I hope it will be well received and expeditiously passed.
The Budget is coming next and also the Referendum.
I am a member of Galway County Council. We got a circular from the late Minister for Education. We had to call a special meeting to formulate the scholarship scheme for this year—I agree with Deputy Tully—on the assumption that this legislation was to come through the Dáil. We drew up a scheme which has gone up to the Department on the assumption that the legislation was to be passed. Forms have gone out to Galway applicants. I want to know now what is going to happen our scheme in County Galway? Are we making fools of those people? Is the Minister's scheme additional to what we are giving? We do not have to use money now for secondary schools and we have put all on university scholarships, which is about five times as much as it was. Is the Minister going to give additional grants to take on that or is he going to bring in this legislation in time for this year?
The existing scholarship scheme will be superseded by the proposed new scheme. There will be no extra amount from the local authorities over and above their contributions of last year. The State will contribute the extra money. There were 275 scholarships provided last year and we intend to bring the level for this year up to about 800. That is the measure of the improvement which will be effected. As I say, the legislation will be introduced after Question Time today and I hope there will be co-operation from everybody so that it will be passed by May.
If it is through by May that is all right, but what about this year?
Can the Minister tell us the reason for the long delay with this legislation? Why is he coming along at this eleventh hour now?
This is a completely new development. Deputies will appreciate that this is a revolutionary development. I can assure the House that as far as I and the local authorities are concerned it will be cleared by May and will be in operation so that students who pass the leaving certificate can make their decisions during the summer. I can assure the House that the scheme will be in full operation for the new academic year.
Will the Minister tell us what we are to do in Galway?
We cannot allow a discussion on this matter now. Question No. 60.
Will the Minister's Department not reply to letters which the local authorities send him? Why does the Minister's Department refuse to reply beyond saying "We thank you?"
I do not believe what the Deputy has said but I will make inquiries.
Surely it is appreciated that the forms will come back to Galway County Council and what are we to do?
Will Deputy Kitt allow questions to proceed? I am calling the next question.
I want the Minister to tell us what we are to do in Galway County Council.