asked the Minister for Education if he will extend the building grants for secondary schools to institutions with under a hundred pupils and so give equal chances for secondary education in the less populated areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Secondary School Building Grants.
48.
I have already announced another scheme to deal with the problem arising in the less populated areas.
Am I to take it that the Minister is not going to give this grant to schools of under 100 pupils? His reply is not very clear to me.
The reply was to a question relating to giving of grants to smaller schools in less populated areas and the reply is that I have provided in another scheme for less populated areas.
Could the Minister indicate what that scheme is?
The provision of comprehensive schools with transport over a wide area to allow for a big population in the schools.
Am I to understand that the Minister is not going to give the secondary school grant to secondary schools with under 100 pupils? Would he not agree that these are the very schools that need a grant as they are mostly run by Orders of Brothers who get no fees from their pupils at all?
In an area where a school is required provision will be made to provide it. If, due to small populations, as the Deputy says, a secondary school would not be big enough to be viable a comprehensive school would be provided. Any special case will be considered by me, as I told the Dáil during the Estimate debate. What the Deputy has said does not fit in with my knowledge of the situation.
I do not want to misunderstand the Minister. Am I right in understanding that a school of under 100 pupils will have this benefit because, as far as I know, I think even schools of under 150 pupils—I am talking of secondary schools—get no building grants?
As a principle I am trying to prevent the springing up all over the country of small schools and a school of 150 pupils is relatively small. I do not think that a school smaller than that could give anything like a complete secondary school course with the number of subjects that will be required by the pupils in the future. My policy is directed towards having large schools—not towards preventing small schools—where a wide range of subjects will be available.
There is a school in Gorey, which has been there over 100 years. Surely the Minister does not intend that school will have to close?
I did not say anything about that school. But does the Deputy object to having a bigger school providing a wider range of subjects and a better chance for the pupils of getting a good education?
(Interruptions.)
This is becoming a debate. Question No. 49.