asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that the local teachers and parents are very perturbed at the hardship and injustice which will be caused by the closure, as proposed, of Coolick national school, Killarney and the transfer of the 150 pupils to Clushnagrave national school; and, if so, if he will take steps to ensure that this school remains open.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Closure of Killarney School.
31.
Coolick national school is a three-teacher school with an enrolment of about 85 pupils. The future educational provision for these pupils is being investigated and a senior inspector has been asked to consult with the local interested parties and furnish a full report. A decision in the matter will subsequently be taken on consideration of the report.
The school which is supposed to be evacuated is a very modern school with 90 pupils and I do not see any advantage in transferring them to a 60-pupil school at Kilcummin, which is a very old school. The people are up in arms against this transfer, as the Minister is probably aware, and I would ask him to consider the matter further.
Mr. O'Malley
No decision has been taken yet, but I should like to say that my information is that Coolick is not a modern school. It was built around 1870.
It must have been repaired, because I know the two schools quite well.
Mr. O'Malley
It was built circa 1870, and my advice is that it is coming to the end of its usefulness. The other school in Kilcummin was built in 1940 and is in reasonably good condition. Anyway, we shall see.
I would ask the Minister to investigate the matter further.