asked the Minister for Education what is the present position regarding a new national school for Glenidan, Collinstown, County Westmeath.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Westmeath School.
23.
It is proposed that Glenidan school be amalgamated with Collinstown school, thus rendering the provision of a new building at Glenidan unnecessary.
Upon amalgamation, free transport to Collinstown school will be made available for the children of the Glenidan school district. Well?
Is the Minister aware that representatives of the parents have written at least three letters to the Minister and the Department and have received no reply? Is he further aware that the parents were not consulted about these changes and can he give me any reason why the Minister or somebody in the Department had not the courtesy to reply to the parents' representatives?
Mr. O'Malley
As the answer to the first and second parts of the Deputy's question is in the negative the third part does not arise, but I would like to say that this amalgamation is being carried out with the approval of the Reverend Manager.
It may be that it is being carried out with the approval of the Reverend Manager, I am not denying that, but it is not being carried out with the approval of the parents. They have not been consulted. They did not get a reply——
The Deputy is making a statement.
They wrote three letters and received no reply.
Question No. 24.
Can the Minister give any reason why they got no reply?
Mr. O'Malley
The Deputy is misinformed.
They did not get a reply.
Order. The Deputy is making statements, not asking questions.
I am asking why the representatives of the parents did not get a reply. They had not got it a week ago when I was putting down this question. They may have got it since.
Mr. O'Malley
They may have.
You are certainly a promising young Minister.