asked the Minister for Education if his attention has been called to the fact that the use of a room with piano, in the vocational school at Castletownbere, was refused to a local Catholic priest for the purposes of a musical society; if the regulations forbid such use of portion of the school; and, if so, if he will have the regulations altered so that, when not actually used for students' classes, such buildings can be used, subject to the supervision of the headmaster, as centres of cultural and educational activities for adults who are not vocational students; and if he is aware that the rooms are at present permitted to Gaelic League branches for drama rehearsals and such like.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Use of Vocational School.
The only information I have regarding the refusal mentioned in the first part of this question is a reference to it contained in the minutes of the meeting of the County Cork Vocational Education Committee held on the 19th ultimo, and this reference states that "the committee unanimously decided to adhere to the decision already made, that the schools be not given for any purpose other than that for which they were erected."
No regulations have been made by my Department regarding the use of vocational schools for such purposes as that mentioned. Responsibility in the matter rests with the local vocational education committees who control the schools, and my Department does not interfere with them in their exercise of that authority.
I have no information regarding the matter mentioned in the last part of the Deputy's question.