asked the Minister for Education whether he is prepared to accede to the request of the parents of children attending Aclint national school, County Louth, to provide a new school in Aclint where there are 87 children on the roll, instead of requiring them to travel long distances to the Vere Foster school at the other end of the parish.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Louth School.
36.
Mr. O'Malley
This matter, involving as it does the provision of the best possible educational facilities for the children concerned, is not one in relation to which a decision can be taken lightly. I am giving it the most careful consideration having regard to the varied representations which have been made to me and to the reports furnished recently by the Department's inspectors. I shall endeavour to reach a decision shortly.
Has the Minister's attention been drawn to the memorial submitted by the parents of the children attending the school and of children who will shortly be attending the school, amounting to 43 signatures from families representing 87 or 90 children, all asking that they might be allowed to send their children to the Aclint national school, leaving the other two schools in the parish to be amalgamated?
Mr. O'Malley
The Deputy has information which, as yet, has not been communicated to me. I am aware that a meeting of the Aclint parents took place on 13th June at which my Deputy Chief Inspector, a Divisional Inspector and District Inspector attended. The outcome was that a ballot of the parents of those children for or against the proposal was to be taken. The votes were to be handed in on 18th June but the manager has not yet communicated the result of that ballot to me. I am not saying that would decide the issue but I would take it into consideration.
Surely the Minister has received a copy of a memorial signed, I think, by 43 of the parents representing between 80 and 90 children? I would have provided the Minister with a copy but I was informed that one had already been furnished to him.
Mr. O'Malley
This is——
A very complex problem but the Minister has not said whether he has received a copy of the memorial?
Mr. O'Malley
I have received a good deal of representations but I have not received information as to what took place at the meeting on 13th June.
I should be very happy to supply the Minister with that information and I think I have written to the Department offering to do so.
Mr. O'Malley
The Deputy himself was the strongest advocate of the central school.
And I still am, provided the parents of the children as well as the manager agree to it, but I represent the parents of the children in this case.
Mr. O'Malley
That can be overdone also.
One must maintain a prudent balance but generally the views of the parents of the children are entitled to respect and consideration.
Mr. O'Malley
They are entitled to consideration but the fact that the ballot might go against amalgamation does not necessarily mean that I should fall in with the parents' wishes.
No. I am only asking that the full facts should be present to the Minister's mind when the final decision is being taken and that the views of the parents of the children should be given proportionate weight vis-à-vis the views of the manager of the school.
Mr. O'Malley
I think that the fact that three inspectors were present at that meeting shows the anxiety of the Department——
I do not distinguish between the Department and the Minister.
Mr. O'Malley
I am simply pointing out that there were three inspectors present.