asked the Minister for Education (a) the total cost of erection of the school of furniture at Navan, County Meath; (b) the number of pupils who have attended it in each term since it was opened; (c) the number of teachers employed there during each such term; and (d) the present usage of the school.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Navan School of Furniture.
94.
Mr. O'Malley
The information sought is as follows:
(a) Total cost of erection: £11,579 3s 11d.
(b) Number of pupils who attended in each school session: School session 1963/64, 34; School session 1964/65, 68; School session 1965/66, 74; School session 1966/67, 25.
(c) Number of teachers employed during each school session: School session 1963/64, 1 whole-time teacher; School session 1964/65, 1 whole-time teacher and the part-time services of three other teachers; School session 1965/66, I whole-time teacher and the part-time services of four other teachers; School session 1966/67, I whole-time teacher and the part-time services of another teacher.
(d) The present usage of the school: The school is used solely for the technical training of apprentices in the Furniture Trade. I understand that in the current session there has been a big reduction in the number of apprentices being released for training in the areas formerly served by this school.
Could the Minister say why this has taken place?
Mr. O'Malley
I understand that there is a big reduction in the current session.
Why did the block release arrangement break down? Is it because of something the Minister and the Department did?
Mr. O'Malley
I do not know, unless the Deputy is contemplating that the application from Monaghan will have a similar fate.
It appears that something went wrong and that a school built for the training of furniture apprentices is now not to be used for that purpose because the block release did not operate. The Department is being blamed for that.
Mr. O'Malley
The number is down to 25 and so the course is not being carried on. There is another area within the jurisdiction of the committee and I agree that there is an application from Monaghan for such a course.
A much greater area was covered by this. There was some arrangement made by the Department for a block release and that was not carried out, perhaps because of finance.
Mr. O'Malley
I do not think it has anything to do with the financial arrangements.
Would the Minister look into the matter?
Mr. O'Malley
I will, but I cannot discover why the drop off was down to 25.
The information should be available in the Department, and if the Minister tells me it is not available, I will be glad to give him the information I have.