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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Feb 1952

Vol. 129 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Closing of Gaeltacht National Schools.

asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that Glensaul and Treen national schools are now closed and whether, as these schools are within the Fíor-Ghaeltacht area and as the closing of a school has a marked tendency towards the depopulation of the area served, he will have the present regulations altered at least in the Gaeltacht areas so that national schools will not be closed unless the average attendance drops to a very low level.

The Glensaul school has not been in operation since 1st April last due to the difficulty experienced by the manager in securing the services of a qualified teacher. The appointment of an untrained teacher has recently been sanctioned in a temporary capacity to the end of June next.

As regards Treen National School, it became necessary under the regulations to consider the withdrawal of grants from the school following the retirement of the principal teacher, as the average attendance had fallen below 20, and the school was situated at a distance of less than one mile and a half from another national school. It was found that all the children in the Treen school district could without hardship attend neighbouring schools in the same parish, and it was decided that payment of grants to the school would not be warranted beyond the 21st December, 1951, the date of the closing of the school for Christmas vacation.

The present regulations ensure that reasonable educational facilities are afforded to children of school-going age and I do not consider that any revision in this matter is necessary in the Gaeltacht areas.

As regards Treen school, the Minister's information that the children who formerly attended this school will not undergo hardship by having to attend some other school, is not correct. This is a mountainous district and the weather conditions, particularly in winter, have a very serious effect on the children. The regulations for the Gaeltacht, in my opinion, should be altered because it is unfortunately common knowledge amongst all of us that the population in these areas is dropping quickly. I want to inform the Minister that the closing of the school in such areas has a hastening effect on the depopulation of the particular area——

The Deputy may not make a speech.

I would ask the Minister to alter the regulations particularly for the Fíor-Ghaeltacht, in which we all profess to have so much interest, and not to close schools in these areas unless the average drops to a very low figure, at least to a much lower figure than would justify the closing of schools in other areas.

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