Page "Donogh O'Malley" Paragraph 6

Having succeeded another dynamic young minister, Patrick Hillery, O ' Malley acted swiftly to introduce the recommendations that were made in an official report regarding education.

Shortly after he was appointed he announced that from 1969 all schools up to Intermediate Certificate level would be free and that free buses would bring students from rural area to the nearest school.

O ' Malley seems to have made this decision himself without consulting other ministers, however, he did discuss it with Lemass.

Jack Lynch, who as Minister for Finance had to find the money to pay for it, was certainly not consulted and was dismayed at the announcement.

In spite of this O ' Malley's proposals were hugely popular with the public and it was impossible for the government to go back on its word.