Vol. 233 No. 10
asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that Dublin school attendance officers have decided to refrain from taking boys to court because there is no suitable institution in Dublin to which to commit them; and if he proposes to take any action to ensure that a suitable institution is available in Dublin.
19.
asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that since the closing of Artane Industrial School, Dublin boys who absent themselves from school and are committed by a court are sent to Letterfrack, which caters mainly for boys who have committed much more serious offences; and that there is no appropriate institution in Dublin to which offenders of this type may be sent; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this situation.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 19 together.
I understand that Artane Industrial School is not about to close and is prepared to accept boys who are committed in circumstances such as those referred to in the Deputy's question. The matter of providing another institution in Dublin does not therefore arise.
The School Attendance Committee in Dublin are of the opinion and believe that Artane is going to cease as an industrial school and become some form of rehabilitation or correction centre for boys, that it is to cease as a school for children committed as a result of non-attendance at school. The only other place left to them is Letterfrack at the moment. As I said in the question, Letterfrack caters for more serious offences and it is not considered a suitable place to commit boys for non-attendance at school. They want to know if the Minister will get some place in the Dublin area.
That is a separate matter.
It would also present great difficulties for parents trying to visit children down in Letterfrack.
Was the Deputy listening to the reply? Artane Industrial School is not about to close down and there is to be no change in the procedure in regard to admitting boys. I understand there was some misunderstanding in the matter which was cleared up at a meeting between my predecessor and the Provincial of the Irish Christian Brothers some weeks ago. I want to repeat that there is no question of its closing down or changing its procedure.
Will the Minister inform the school attendance committee of this decision?
I will indeed.
