asked the Minister for Education when he will sanction the building of a new secondary school at Monasterevan, County Kildare.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Kildare School.
27.
The position in relation to this school is that the enrolments there are much lower than was anticipated when the building of a new school was approved. This is an aspect of the matter which will have to be considered further in consultation with the school authorities and one that will have to be taken into account when building priorities are being arranged.
Officers of my Department will discuss the whole matter with the school manager within the next week or so.
Is the Minister aware that the nuns in the convent at the moment are renting a local hall in order to accommodate the pupils and that they are so frustrated with the position regarding the building of the new school that they are considering pulling out of secondary education?
The problem is that the intake has fallen and, as I say, I cannot comment further on it until the discussions with the officers of my Department have taken place.
Is the Minister aware that the fact that the numbers are low in Monasterevan school at the moment could be attributed to the conditions under which children have to attend school at this hall, that bigger numbers were available when this scheme was first mooted but that the numbers have gone down on that account?
That is something which will come up for discussion with the officers of my Department next week.