Debate time and education matters
Deputy Broughan challenges the limited time available to Opposition groups and raises outstanding education matters. Deputy Quinn says time allocation is for the Whips and House, invites teacher unions into talks, and addresses the summer works issue.
Regarding the Minister's earlier remarks about time being available, in regard to the fourth group, if one likes, in the Opposition - the others - this week, on a number of issues, there has been no time available. I think the Minister misled the House, effectively, in that regard. It was a very short debate. I remember many instances when Governments changed and there was a wide-ranging debate over a number of hours.
On the Minister's own portfolio, a couple of weeks ago I questioned him in regard to the changes at junior certificate level and whether we will have an opportunity in this House to discuss the matter. As he knows, there is grave disquiet among second level teachers about this. Many observers did not agree with the approach taken at the ASTI conference in particular, but I believe the megaphone and everything else did express a feeling that the Minister simply was not listening to people and that the need for an independent evaluation at around age 14 or 15 is still there. This is an issue which may need debate in this House.
With regard to the summer works scheme, while I welcome the amount of funding the Minister has provided, some schools have just missed out, for example, an Educate Together school in Kilbarrack in my own constituency. Is it possible there will be further assistance for those schools that have badly needed works and whose buildings have deteriorated?
Comment on this
On the two earlier matters, the question of time allocation in this House is a matter for the Whips and the House in terms of how it deals with its affairs. I do not have a role in that regard.
With regard to the teacher unions, I would love them to come in to talks and to explore with the Department and myself how we can make progress. I have listened to and am aware of their concerns, and we would like to move a step further, if that is possible. That has been indicated by me to them on a number of occasions and the matter is with them.
On the last point concerning the summer works scheme, we got through tranches of this year's summer works scheme because of the money we were able to make available, and quite a large number of schools have been able to benefit from that. If more money becomes available, there will not be another summer works scheme because we do not have the time to process it, so it will be for next year, if that is possible.