asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware that a number of national schools in County Waterford have not yet installed flush lavatories and if, in view of the grave danger to the health of the children and teachers of these schools, he will take whatever steps are necessary to have these schools fitted with proper sanitary arrangements.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Waterford Schools—Sanitation.
It is the policy of my Department to assist, as far as possible, in the provision of proper sanitary accommodation for national schools. Grants may be made towards the cost of providing water-closets for vested national schools, i.e., schools which are vested by official leases to which the Minister for Education is a party, provided that an adequate and constant supply of water for flushing purposes and satisfactory drainage facilities are available, or can be made available, and that the expenditure involved would be warranted, in the light of all the considerations. The provision of suitable sanitary arrangements for non-vested schools is a matter for the respective managers, and no aid towards the cost could be allowed by the Department.
I am aware that, as in other counties, a number of national schools in County Waterford are not provided with waterflushed sanitation, but I am not aware that in any of the cases in that area the sanitary accommodation is so defective that it constitutes a danger to the health of the children or the teachers. I have no doubt that attention would be directed to such cases by the school managers or by the county medical officer or by the inspectors, in which event all possible steps would be taken by my Department to have the position remedied.
Is the Minister aware that the county medical officer of health has in the past four years reported two of the schools in which I am interested? Can he inform me if the medical officer of health has on his own or with the help of the Minister any power to compel the manager, in the interest of the children's health and that of the teachers, to instal sanitary accommodation which I can assure the Minister can be provided at a minimum cost?
I think my answer quite clears up that. If the amenity is necessary and if it is possible to provide it, the Department will be helpful. In regard to the question as to whether the county medical officer has reported to my Department, he has not, but I do think he has very wide powers and I suggest that the Minister for Local Government might be asked the question.
Is not this matter of want of sanitation general and not confined to one or two national schools?
This has reference only to Waterford.