asked the Minister for Education (a) why he decided to close down Garristown Vocational School, Dublin, (b) why the parents were not consulted before a decision was reached, (c) why there were no teachers present when the school opened on September 22nd, and (d) why a representative of CIE was in Garristown school asking the children if they wanted transport to other schools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin Vocational School.
19.
Because of the very low enrolment in the school, due to lack of support by the local people, and the number of pupils seeking transport out of the area to other centres, my Department suggested to the County Dublin Vocational Education Committee that the best interests of the children in the area would be served by the closure of the school and by giving all the children free transport to the other centres to which the majority of them were already going.
My Department had discussions with the County Dublin Vocational Education Committee in April and explained to the committee my Department's views about the future of the school. I understand that shortly after that meeting the committee met the local parents and explained the position to them. Subsequently, an officer of my Department attended a local meeting at which the whole position was again discussed. Some time later, I myself received a deputation about the matter.
The question of the attendance of teachers at the school on September 22nd was a matter for the County Dublin Vocational Education Committee.
Is the Minister not concerned about the fact that on the day the school opened there was no teacher present? There was a representative there from CIE asking the children, not the parents, to where they wanted transport. Is it not also a fact that the Minister announced that he was closing down this school next year and that this announcement was responsible for the very small enrolment because people naturally would not send children to a school in which they knew they could not finish their education or acquire whatever qualifications they wanted? Is it not also a fact that the children were being sent to places like Swords where there is such overcrowding there is no room for even another pre-fab? Does the Minister see any sense in closing down a good school like Garristown?
The school was not being availed of by the people of Garristown.
There was the same number as there was every other year.
We cannot have a speech on this.
It is not a speech. This is a very important matter.
At the moment 97 pupils have free transport out of Garristown and out of the total enrolment there are only six in the immediate area attending that school.
Is that not due to the fact that the Minister announced he was closing down the school next year?
That is not so. The Deputy is perfectly well aware that a very large number of these children were previously being transported to various other schools in the area— Drogheda, Swords and elsewhere—and were not making use of this school.
Is it not a fact that not one public representative, either of the Minister's party or any other party, in the county, agreed with the Minister's decision and that parents in the area did not agree with his decision?
It is a very interesting fact that if the parents did not agree with my decision they nevertheless sent their children elsewhere.
That was solely because the Minister would not provide the range of subjects that would allow the children to obtain their leaving certificate examination.
We cannot spend all afternoon debating this question.
The children were sent from the area prior to that and the Deputy is well aware of what happened.
It is hatchet politics. The Minister has forgotten about the interests of the children and he is denuding rural Ireland.
The Deputy is just bluffing. He knows perfectly well that long before any decision was made in relation to this school the vast majority of children were travelling to other centres.
CIE are making the decisions.
(Interruptions.)
Order. I am calling Question No. 20.