asked the Minister for Education if he will reconsider the decision of his Department to close Tullamore national school, County Kerry, at the end of the month in view of the fact that the parents of the children attending this school have held several protest meetings, are not in favour of the closing and state they are unwilling to allow their children to attend any other school.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Closure of Schools.
21.
Tullamore national school, a two-teacher school, is 95 years old and is scheduled for replacement. A proposal to amalgamate it with the schools at Coolard is at present under consideration. The amalgamation, however, will not take place for some time.
22.
asked the Minister for Education if he will reconsider his decision to close Corvoy school in County Monaghan as there are 52 children on the roll; and if he is aware that the schools in Ballybay to which these children are being sent are overcrowded at present.
The decision to close Corvoy school and bring the children into the schools in Ballybay is in accordance with the general policy in relation to the amalgamation of small schools into larger and more efficient units and is the first step in the rationalisation of primary school accommodation in the parish of Ballybay. It is the intention that the amalgamation will take place after the summer holidays and that the necessary additional accommodation will be provided in Ballybay in the meantime.
I might add for the Deputy's information that a much broadened curriculum for national schools is at present being worked out. Such a curriculum could not possibly be adopted in one-or two-teacher schools.
Is the Minister aware the people have been told the school is closing next Friday?
There is nothing contradictory in our statements.
I will ask a question. Is the Minister aware that every parent in Ballybay is raging mad about a notice that was published that this school was going to close next Friday and the parents announced that they would not send their children to school on Monday? Is it not true that the school term comes to an end, in fact, next Friday and nobody is expected to send children to school on Monday? Is it not also a fact that the Minister for Education has informed me, I am sure Deputy Mooney, and the Minister for Transport and Power that he will send inspectors of his Department down to Ballybay to meet the parents and discuss their problem with them and will, in the meantime, keep an open mind until these discussions have been completed? Is that not the fact?
I am afraid the Deputy will have to wait until he comes back himself.
Deputy Mooney and I will exchange information on this matter. So far as I am aware, that is a fact.
I was informed by the children's parents that the school was closing on Friday.
There is a misapprehension. Is the Minister aware that the holidays begin next Friday?
I know.
Is the Minister further aware that the Minister for Education will arrange that inspectors of his Department will go down and will discuss with the parents of these children the proposals he has for the Ballybay parish and will carefully and sympathetically consider the views of the parents and of the monsignor who is manager of the school?
The answer contains the information that the amalgamation will take place after the summer holidays and, in the meantime, some reconstruction work will be carried out.
Is it not true there will be consultation with the parents in the meantime?
I think there will be, but I should not like to give a categoric answer in the absence of the Minister.
A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse: there will be consultation.