asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that Ranalough national school, Carrow, Farranfore, County Kerry, which was built in 1934 without water or sewerage is a four-teacher school with 160 pupils; and that the teachers and parents of the children are urgently seeking to have sanitary facilities provided; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Schools.
33.
The possibility of providing water-flushed sanitation at this school was investigated by the Commissioners of Public Works some three years ago but because of the poor soakage qualities of the soil it was found that a septic tank could not be satisfactorily provided. It was considered, in the circumstances, that water-flushed sanitation could not be provided at the school until the proposed public sewer becomes available.
I shall have inquiries made of Kerry County Council as to the prospects of the public sewers being provided soon. If there is likely to be a long delay, I shall ask the Commissioners to re-examine the problem to see if some suitable improvement can be made in the matter of sanitation at the school.
Could the Minister give an undertaking that we could transfer them out of that school to some hall? There is a hall there.
Yes.
The Minister says water and sewerage cannot be put in now. Can he say how long we will have to wait? When it was built in 1934 was the right time to do it.
It was a question of getting after the hall.
Will the Minister ensure that his colleague in Local Government will provide money for Kerry County Council to do the job?
We are talking about practical business here.
34.
asked the Minister for Education if it is intended to erect the new school in the Glen, Ballinskelligs, County Kerry, for which arrangements were nearly complete last year.
35.
asked the Minister for Education if he will speed up plans for the erection of the Glen national school, Ballinskelligs, County Kerry and give it priority, as the present school is one of the worst in the country having no toilets, sewerage or playgrounds.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 35 together.
I would refer the Deputies to my replies to questions on 13th December, 1967, and 18th June, 1968, about this school.
The investigations in this case have been completed and a final decision has been taken in my Department, to provide a new two-roomed school at Glen in replacement of the existing school. The reverend manager has offered a site and the Commissioners of Public Works have been requested to report as to its suitability. They hope to do so early in the new year.
In view of the urgency of the case my Department has asked the Commissioners to consider the question of having the school built by industrialised building methods, so as to eliminate delay in erection.
Could the Minister state whether it will be six months, ten months or 12 months?
It is OK. It is going ahead now.
Like the drainage of the Shannon?
OK. I will give you the details.
I deplore this use of "OK" by the Minister for Education.
I am sorry about that.
It is like the merger.
Nobody takes anything seriously.
The Commissioners will be on the job in the New Year, in early January.
We believe you but nobody else will.
Of what year?
36.
asked the Minister for Education what progress has been made towards providing a central school in Portmagee, County Kerry, the site for which was surveyed over twelve months ago.
According to a recent report from the Commissioners of Public Works a site offered by the manager for the proposed new central school at Portmagee is suitable. The Commissioners will now be requested to undertake the preparation of sketch plans and an estimate of cost for the new school and the manager will be asked to produce satisfactory evidence of title to the site so that the remaining arrangements, leading to invitation of tenders and the placing of a contract, may proceed.