asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the growing difficulties which some secondary school managements are experiencing in discharging debts incurred by them in building and equipping schools prior to the initiation of the subsidised secondary schools scheme; and if he will come to the assistance financially of such institutions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Secondary School Buildings.
95.
A firm date must be set for the commencement of any scheme of grants. If there were to be retrospection there could never be any finality. Accordingly, the date for the introduction of the scheme of building grants was fixed for February, 1964, which coincided with the announcement of the scheme.
Would the Minister not have regard to the fact that a number of schools entered the scheme believing that financially it would be feasible, that they now find it impossible to carry on and that there is a danger that a number of institutions may close down because they have not, within the scheme, the opportunities to raise the funds necessary to repay their debts? Having regard to the fact that this would cause very serious upset in the provision of necessary accommodation in the secondary school field, would the Minister be prepared to amend the scheme or to assist these schools in some way?
No, I am afraid it would be impossible to make this retrospective. If you take certain cases into consideration you find that others of a different type will be brought forward and eventually there will be no end to the number of schools wishing to qualify. We had no alternative in relation to this scheme but to set a particular date and I fear there is nothing I can do about it.
So the so-called, much vaunted free scheme is really relying on the charity and sacrifice of a number of religious orders——
This is not so.
——and expecting them to make greater sacrifices. It is so and the Minister knows it.