asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware that in the National School at Kilmacoo, County Wicklow, accommodation is provided for approximately only one-half of the pupils in attendance at the school; whether the necessity for providing further accommodation was raised over a dozen years ago; whether he is aware that children have sometimes collapsed in school as a result of the overcrowding; whether he will state what are the circumstances which have retarded or prevented the erection of suitable premises for the proper education of the children of this area, and what steps are now being taken by his Department to remedy the present unsatisfactory condition of affairs.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - KILMACOO (CO. WICKLOW) NATIONAL SCHOOL.
The accommodation is such as is indicated in the question. I have, so far, been unable to ascertain that a claim for enlargement was made a dozen years ago. The General Reports indicate that the overcrowding became acute in the year 1923. The school was included in the "Census List" of schools requiring enlargement. Since November, 1927, the Department has been in direct communication with the manager. The main preliminary difficulty in solving the question has been the provision of the necessary additional ground. The existing site is not sufficiently large to allow of further building on it. As the building is in a good state of preservation it was considered not desirable to incur what might be unnecessary expenditure in building a new school on the opposite side of the road on an entirely new site, as long as there was any hope of securing title to some ground adjoining the existing plot. It is not yet clear that this latter course is impossible, and the matter is being explored further with a view to coming to an early decision on the point.
Mr. O'CONNELL
Would the Minister say that, in so far as he can—I know his powers are limited—in this and other cases—there are several cases —he will do what he can to speed up building operations?
In this case it is due, as I have explained, to the fact that the existing building is quite a good one—so are the walls and everything concerned with the playing ground—but on the land immediately adjoining it has been impossible for the manager to get a site. If we were to proceed now we would have to abandon practically the present school and build a new one. The Deputy will understand that until we are convinced that it is impossible to extend the present school, such a course would be inadvisable. It may be that in a short time we shall be quite convinced. Therefore, we will have to consider the question of building an entirely new school, not simply enlarging the other.
Mr. O'CONNELL
Are there no powers to acquire land compulsorily for schools?
I am afraid not.
Could you not build a two-storey house?