asked the Minister for Education if he will state the position in regard to Ballintogher national school, County Sligo.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Ballintogher (Sligo) School.
35.
Sketch plans for the proposed new national school at Ballintogher were prepared and forwarded to the Reverend Manager who notified my Department subsequently that the site on which it was proposed to build the school was no longer available. An alternative site has been offered. It will be surveyed by the Commissioners of Public Works at an early date.
Is the Minister aware the parents have withdrawn their children from this school because it is not fit for occupation and they are not prepared to let the children back until a proper school is provided? Has he any suggestions to make to ease the situation in the meantime?
We are prepared to provide a school, if a site is made available. One is now being made available and a school will be built on it, if it is suitable.
How soon? I understand approval for building has not yet been obtained.
The Deputy must realise that the delay in building the school does not rest with my Department.Any delays up to now have been due to the fact that the site on which it was proposed to build the school was no longer available.
I am concerned about the children attending this school. They have been withdrawn by the parents who state they are not prepared to let them back to that school. How do we meet that point?
In other cases, I have made temporary accommodation available when it became necessary because of local conditions. I have nothing before me to suggest that is the case in this instance.
It is sad that we have to come in here and speak on a problem of this sort. In many cases, we have schools being closed, but in this case we have 65 children in a village that is making a fine effort to survive. On previous occasions——
What is the question?
——I have raised this question——
What is the question now?
Arising out of the question, but I have never——
Putting it that way does not make a question of it. What is the question the Deputy is putting?
What is the reason for the delay? It is sad we should have to repeat this thing——
Will the Deputy please put a question?
I expressed publicly in the Dáil eight or ten months ago our concern about the conditions that prevailed and I do not want to express it again. The Press have given it plenty of publicity. It is no laughing matter at all.
Will the Deputy ask a question, please?
There are 65 children, all of whom have had to be withdrawn by the parents, and I would ask the Minister to take immediate action to have alternative accommodation provided until the new school is available.
I know about this case. I was at a meeting in Ballintogher——
Deputies must put a question.
Would the Minister consider having the old school repaired so that we could carry on there until such time as the new school is built? The old school is in a desperate state, with rats and mice running all over the place.
There may be some local trouble which I was not aware of. I am prepared to make provision for the children until the new school is available. I can assure Deputies that I shall deal with the matter.