asked the Minister for Education whether he will state the reasons for the closing of Loorha National School near Dunmore, County Galway, and whether it is the intention of his Department to reopen it in the near future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Loorha National School (Galway).
An investigation into the condition of Loorha National School showed that the school building had become practically uninhabitable and that its continued use might be a source of danger to the pupils. As it was ascertained that all the children attending the school lived within a reasonable distance from other national schools in the district, it was not considered necessary to have a new school provided to replace the old one.
Is the Minister aware that this school was repaired recently and that there are eight children in the school area? Is he aware that this place is in a sort of mountainous district and there are children who have a long way to go to school across the mountain? It would be impossible at times for them to get there; it would mean tremendous hardship for the children to get over the mountain to go to other schools. Will the Minister reconsider this matter?
This matter was very thoroughly examined. There is no townland from which children were attending the Loorha school where the children had to go as much as two miles to an alternative school. There are six schools available within a radius of three miles of the old school —Cloonfad, Mount Delvin, Shanbally-more, Flaskagh, Gortaleam and Dunmore.
There is a village called Clonkeen—and I think the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance can bear me out there—that is actually on the top of the mountain and it is very far away from any of these schools. Dunmore is three miles away and the other schools the Minister mentioned are beyond a reasonable school-going distance for young children. I think this matter might be considered again.
I will undertake that the matter will be reviewed again, and kept under review.