(Cavan) asked the Minister for Education if he will make immediate arrangements to provide reasonable post-primary education for the children of Glangevlin area, County Cavan, as educational facilities in this area have deteriorated under the recent scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cavan Post-Primary Education.
115.
Mr. O'Malley
Full post-primary educational facilities are being provided for the children of the Glangevlin area. Far from the educational facilities in the area deteriorating under the recent scheme, the introduction of free transport has enabled pupils from the area to attend neighbouring centres where a wider post-primary curriculum is available to them.
(Cavan): Will the Minister not accept that a special case exists in this area, and is he aware that transport to Dromkerrin school involves, the way the bus travels, a total journey of from 70 to 80 miles daily? Is he aware that the other school concerned, Bawnboy, involves travelling across a mountain which is impassable annually during a considerable period of the year and that transport, therefore, in this area is not a solution? If the Minister is not prepared to grant further additional facilities in Glangevlin, if he is determined to close the school there, will he consider treating it as a special area and granting residential scholarships?
Mr. O'Malley
I know the Deputy is conversant with the entire position there. We have had local meetings and gone into the matter exhaustively. As he knows, free transport is being provided to those schools and there are children availing of that free transport.
(Cavan): Is the Minister aware that some of the children who are available for post-primary education and some of those who availed of it locally last year are not now availing of it, for the simple reason that though transport may be a solution in lots of places, it is not here?
Mr. O'Malley
I have looked into this and I cannot agree with the Deputy. On the question of having to cross mountains, impassable terrain and all of that, my information is that the roads in the area are very good, that they have been specially maintained for tourist purposes. There is no information from my inspectors or from anyone.
(Cavan): It is true to say that the road has a good surface. It is equally true to say that it is snowbound and frostbound and impassable for buses for long periods of the winter. It is known as Landgap.
Mr. O'Malley
We are not talking about the Pyrenees or the Alps. Let us be realistic. There is no land like that in Ireland. There is no place in Ireland snowbound, and so on.
Would the Minister like to visit some of the mountains in Wicklow from time to time?
(Cavan): I said impassable for buses. I invite the Minister or his inspectors to visit it.
Mr. O'Malley
My inspectors have made a report. We are acting in the best interests of the children. We believe we are doing the right thing.
(Cavan): Is it not a fact that provision has been made in the scheme for residential scholarships where transport does not work?
Mr. O'Malley
I am answering another question on that later, in reply to Deputy Murphy.
(Cavan): Perhaps the Minister would say “yes” or “no” to that.
Mr. O'Malley
It is under consideration in certain cases.
(Cavan): Would the Minister seriously consider it if the parish priest and others who have no interest in the matter other than that of the children involved convince him that transport is not——
Mr. O'Malley
I do not want the parish priest or others to convince me. I make up my own mind. I have my inspectors. I am looking at the matter in an unbiassed independent way.
(Cavan): Would the Minister consider that a journey of 70 miles is too long?
Mr. O'Malley
Where are the 70 miles?
(Cavan): It is not 70 miles as the crow flies but I am told that it traverses 35 miles there and 35 miles back, which makes 70 miles.
Mr. O'Malley
The Deputy was incorrectly informed.
Next question.