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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Nov 1968

Vol. 236 No. 14

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Primary School Facilities

70.

asked the Minister for Education the number of primary schools which have no inside toilet as a percentage of the total number of primary schools.

71.

asked the Minister for Education the number of primary schools which have electric light as a percentage of the total number of primary schools.

72.

asked the Minister for Education the number of primary schools which are dependent on open fires for heating as a percentage of the total number of primary schools.

With your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 70, 71 and 72 together.

The most recent information available in regard to the issues raised by the Deputy is from the Report of the Department's Survey Team on investment in Education. This Report shows that (a) 62.5 per cent of national schools were equipped with electric current in 1963, (b) 63 per cent of schools had open fires in the same year and (c) 54.1 per cent of schools had no inside toilets in 1963/64.

Since then although I have not got the exact details, the position has been improved by the following factors:—

(1) closure of 474 small schools on centralisation;

(2) the issue of a circular letter to managers giving them permission to install sanitary and heating facilities in certain national schools without further reference to the Department; and

(3) the provision of 365 new schools and the carrying out of 639 major schemes of improvement.

An up-to-date rough estimate taking the foregoing factors into consideration in regard to (a), (b) and (c) above would be 65 per cent, 60 per cent and 50 per cent respectively.

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