asked the Minister for Education if his Department will consider granting a prize each year in summer for the best-kept primary school in each county in this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prize for Best-Kept Primary School.
I share with the Deputy, and indeed with every Deputy in this House, an anxiety that everything possible should be done to have our school buildings kept clean and attractive, both inside and outside, and I am prepared to consider any suggestion which might help in this regard.
I regret, however, that for a number of reasons it would not be feasible to adopt the suggestion contained in the Deputy's question.
Will the Minister indicate one of the reasons why he cannot meet the suggestion?
There are over 4,000 schools scattered over the country and they are of different kinds, urban and rural and in different districts and itis hard to make a comparison between them. It would occupy probably a month on the part of each inspector in his own area to inspect and make a decision in each case. Finally, no inspector's district quite coincides with the county boundaries. I do not think it is the way to do it.
I would be inclined to support the Minister, but why not fine those who do not keep the schools clean?
Who is responsible for the upkeep and care of the schools?