asked the Minister for Education if there has been a change in his Department's policy towards the provision of all-Irish schools; and if he will give details of the stages of progress at present obtaining in the case of each of the applications for such schools before his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - All-Irish Schools.
54.
My policy towards the provision of all-Irish schools is enunciated in the Government's Programme for Action in Education 1984-87, which was published in 1984. This policy has not since been altered.
In the case of primary schools, nine applications for the establishment of all-Irish primary schools were received in 1986. One was subsequently withdrawn, that of Castletroy, County Limerick. Three new schools were sanctioned at Portmarnock, County Dublin, Kilcock, County Kildare and Cobh, County Cork. In Monaghan, an existing school established an all-Irish stream therein, obviating the need for a separate school.
Four applications, which came from Mahon and Parklands, Cork, Southill, Limerick and Ballycreagh, Tallaght, County Dublin, were rejected in accordance with the Rules for National Schools on the grounds that these areas are within reasonable distances of existing all-Irish schools.
In the post-primary area, the town of Bray Vocational Education Committee have very recently applied to my Department for sanction to provide an all-Irish Vocational School in Bray, County Wicklow. This application is under examination in my Department at present.
I submit to the Minister that there has been a shift in policy in the Department towards the provision of all-Irish schools. While the Minister may quote the Government's Programme for Action in Education 1984-87, will he agree that the Department are using delaying tactics to delay sanction of such all-Irish schools? I put it to the Minister that the Department's words about the provision of such schools so that the furtherance of Irish can be encouraged sound fine particularly to parents who have expressed a wish to have their children schooled in that medium but that their words and promises are very hollow in view of the fact that there are at present eight schools awaiting sanction? Will the Minister agree with me that Monaghan had to give in to pressure when the Department refused them sanction for an all-Irish school, when they had to take the much less attractive option of having an Irish class within in existing school? Will the Minister give any Governmental commitment, as heretotore, to the provision of all-Irish schools where the need arises, where the various requirements are met by the parental bodies and the boards of management?
There has been no change in the policy towards the provision of all-Irish schools.
There has been.
In Monaghan the existing school established an all-Irish stream therein which obviated the need for a separate school. In the other cases, under the present policy guidelines the schools were not approved.
With regard to Gaelscoil Míde mentioned in an earlier question, is that the school on which most progress has been made according to departmental guidelines?
The question down was in respect of the Department not pursuing the purchase of a site. The answer is that the questions of alternative accommodation and the site pricing are not concluded. When they have been, a decision will be taken.
The Minister has now confirmed to me the shift of policy. That is why I posed that question. Is it not true that various delaying tactics are being used by his Department so that sanction is not being given for all-Irish schools? Can the Minister tell me the reason?
It is not true.
It is true.
Three new schools were sanctioned this year — in accordance with the normal guidelines — at Portmarnock, Kilcock and Cobh. Under the present guidelines with regard to national schools, others were not approved. In the case of Monaghan, the necessity for having a separate building was obviated by their decision and agreement to establish an all-Irish stream in the existing school. There has been no change in policy in terms of the provision of all-Irish schools.
I cannot let the question go without putting on the record that, in my opinion——
The Deputy will have to put it in the form of a question.
Is the Minister aware that the public are quite sure there has been a change in policy in the provision of all-Irish schools?
I want to reassure the public there is no change in the policy towards the provision of all-Irish schools and that many cases coming before the Department are treated in the normal way.