asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware that educational facilities are not available for school children on Whiddy Island, and, if so, if he will take steps to provide such facilities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Whiddy Island: Educational Facilities.
I am aware that there is no national school on Whiddy Island at present. The school on the island ceased to operate as from 31st December, 1947, owing to the fact that the average daily attendance thereat for the two consecutive years 1946 and 1947 was less than seven units.
I have no information regarding the number of children of school-going age living on the island at present, and I am, therefore, arranging for the local inspector of schools to investigate the position in this respect.
Until these particulars are available, I am unable to say what arrangements, if any, can be made for the provision of educational facilities in Whiddy Island.
When you ask your inspector to report on this case, would you ask him to make a report on the number of children available——
I have already asked the Deputy not to address the Minister directly across the House. He is deliberately ignoring my instructions.
Would the Minister consider asking his inspector to report on the number of children of school-going age without reference to the section aged six to 14 years——
Oh, yes.
——because everybody knows that children nowadays start going to school at the age of four years and I cannot see why children of that age in a remote area should not have the same school facilities as those in the more populated areas?
The whole position on the island, so far as the child population is concerned——
It would make a big difference to those areas.