With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 48 together.
The national school at Waterloo, Blarney, County Cork, is a two-teacher school with an average enrolment of about 70 pupils. It is on a restricted site and it lacks water-flushed sanitary facilities. Following a full investigation by an inspector from my Department which disclosed that there will be a rapid downward trend in the enrolments in the school it was decided that the educational interests of the children would best be served by conveying them on a free transport service to the national school at Whitechurch. This school, which is now a two-teacher school, previously had three teachers. The amalgamation would ensure a four-teacher school at Whitechurch where modern amenities including water-flushed sanitation could be provided. The Deputies will, I am sure, appreciate that no person now seriously questions the educational advantages of larger school units. The proposal has already been discussed by the Department's inspector with the manager and the parents concerned.