asked the Minister for Education why teaching facilities at Frayne school, County Meath, have been withdrawn; and whether local parents were consulted as to the future of the school by officers of his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meath School.
39.
Grants were withdrawn from this small one-teacher school in order to provide better educational facilities for the children by amalgamation with a larger school unit. The matter was fully discussed with the school manager before the final decision was taken.
In view of the small number of pupils in Frayne school and of the proximity of adequate accommodation elsewhere no case could be made for keeping the school open.
In the circumstances no meeting took place between the parents and officers of my Department.
Is the Minister aware that the manager of the school informed the parents, when they inquired, that he had not been consulted by the Minister's Department before the school was closed? Secondly, is the Minister aware that facilities are not available for these pupils in the school to which they have been transferred?
Firstly, if the manager stated what Deputy Tully says, he was misinformed.
I brought this to the notice of the Minister for Education at the time. He was to let me have a comment on it but he did not.
The manager was consulted. In fact, the date originally fixed for amalgamation was 1st January, 1968. It was put back, at the manager's request, to 1st July, 1968. This fact must have escaped his memory. Secondly, I am not aware that the facilities are not available in the amalgamated school.