asked the Minister for Education (a) what survey has been carried out by his Department on the condition of national schools in Ireland since 1968; and (b) what similar survey was carried out in 1967.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Schools Survey.
72.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply given on 15th February, 1968, to a question tabled by Deputy O'Leary requesting details of the examination procedure on the state of national schools.
Surveys were carried out in 1967 and since February, 1968, by my Department's inspectors in accordance with the procedure outlined in that reply.
I think the Minister indicated then that there were certain schools which were in a serious condition and others which were condemned. Can he say if in the interim there was anything which would give any reason to believe that these schools which are there since 1900 will be brought up to date and made satisfactory for children?
The Deputy can take it that this will be done. It is part of the whole policy of amalgamating the small one and two-teacher schools. We are pushing this very strongly at the moment.
It would be very serious to see our primary schools becoming the Cinderella of Irish education.
It is quite the reverse.
Some of these schools were erected in Victorian times and have unsatisfactory sanitary arrangements, unheated classrooms, and so on.
We cannot have a speech on this question. Question No. 73.
This is more important than PR.
In regard to the heating and cleaning grants, we have increased the allocation by 50 per cent.
Is the Minister satisfied that it is being spent?
This is part of the overall problem which I am having investigated.
Is the Minister answering the question I asked?
In regard to primary and post-primary schools, we are thinking in terms of having some regional authority to deal with their structure.
The Minister is coming around to our policy.
We will have progress.