asked the Minister for Education if he will state in respect of the following proposed community school centres (a) the total current number of secondary and vocational school students (boys and girls) and (b) the number of secondary and vocational teachers in each area: (1) the rural areas of Achill, Ardee, Athy, Ballymahon, Birr, Carndonagh, Carrick-on-Shannon, Cashel, Castleblayney, Clonakilty, Cobh, Derrybeg, Edenderry, Kells, Killorglin, Lanesboro, Loughrea, Millstreet, Moyne, Muine Bheag, Portarlington, Portumna, Rathkeale, Skerries and Tullow; and (2) the urban areas of Blanchardstown and Tallaght (Dublin), Mayfield and Passage West (Cork); and Janesboro/Galvone and Castleconnell (Limerick).
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Community School Centre.
28.
The information sought by the Deputy is given in the form of a tabular statement which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
Community Schools—Centres
|
Centre |
Secondary |
Vocational |
|
Achill |
170 |
122 |
|
Ardee |
299 |
137 |
|
Athy |
444 |
258 |
|
Ballymahon |
281 |
200 |
|
Birr |
492 |
221 |
|
Carndonagh |
369 |
385 |
|
Carrick-on-Shannon |
396 |
188 |
|
Cashel |
399 |
42 |
|
Castleblayney |
274 |
199 |
|
Clonakilty |
481 |
168 |
|
Cobh |
445 |
207 |
|
Derrybeg |
131 |
85 |
|
Edenderry |
275 |
117 |
|
Kells |
500 |
216 |
|
Killorglin/ Miltown |
385 |
291 |
|
Lanesboro |
156 |
181 |
|
Loughrea |
518 |
260 |
|
Millstreet |
416 |
121 |
|
Moyne/ Ballinamuck |
183 |
164 |
|
Muine Beag |
342 |
224 |
|
Portarlington |
390 |
117 |
|
Portumna |
269 |
115 |
|
Rathkeale |
158 |
94 |
|
Skerries |
365 |
30 |
|
Tullow |
362 |
309 |
|
Blanchards-town* |
— |
158 |
|
Tallaght* |
— |
255 |
|
Mayfield |
— |
— |
|
Passage West |
124 |
87 |
|
Janesboro'/ Galvone |
— |
— |
|
Castleconnell |
101 |
30 |
*No Secondary Schools at present. Children going out of these areas to Secondary Schools in other areas.
|
Centre |
Secondary Teachers |
Vocational Teachers |
||
|
Full Time |
Part Time |
Full Time |
Part Time |
|
|
Achill |
9 |
1 |
7 |
2 |
|
Ardee |
16 |
1 |
9 |
|
|
Athy |
22 |
19 |
3 |
|
|
Ballymahon |
15 |
4 |
11 |
7 |
|
Birr |
31 |
12 |
14 |
5 |
|
Carndonagh |
18 |
2 |
21 |
2 |
|
Carrick-on-Channon |
24 |
10 |
4 |
|
|
Cashel |
19 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
|
Castleblayney |
16 |
6 |
13 |
1 |
|
Clonakilty |
23 |
6 |
14 |
4 |
|
Cobh |
26 |
7 |
13 |
8 |
|
Derrybeg |
7 |
7 |
1 |
|
|
Edenderry |
12 |
18 |
14 |
4 |
|
Kells |
26 |
3 |
12 |
4 |
|
Killorglin/Miltown |
21 |
1 |
18 |
5 |
|
Lanesboro |
11 |
1 |
12 |
8 |
|
Loughrea |
31 |
8 |
16 |
|
|
Millstreet |
25 |
7 |
8 |
4 |
|
Moyne/ Ballinamuck |
10 |
3 |
12 |
3 |
|
Muine Beag |
18 |
1 |
15 |
5 |
|
Portarlington |
21 |
2 |
8 |
4 |
|
Portumna |
21 |
8 |
||
|
Rathkeale |
12 |
3 |
6 |
4 |
|
Skerries |
24 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
Tullow |
21 |
14 |
20 |
9 |
|
Blanchardstown |
12 |
1 |
||
|
Tallaght |
17 |
|||
|
Mayfield |
||||
|
Passage West |
6 |
6 |
3 |
|
|
Janesboro/Galvone Castleconnell |
7 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
If it would not be too difficult, could the Minister give me from the tabular statement the figures for Mayfield in Cork?
This is a centre where there will be a new school erected. I would have no figures for that particular case.
Are we to take it as confirmation then that in relation to the Mayfield area of Cork—the constituency the Taoiseach represents— there are currently no secondary school pupils, no vocational school pupils, boys or girls, and that there are no secondary or vocational teachers in that area?
That is right.
Could I ask the Minister to comment on that situation in the light of his proposals?
My proposals affect the general situation in relation to all the school areas listed.
Would the Minister not agree that in areas where secondary school pupils either do not exist at all, as in Mayfield, Cork, or in areas where vocational school pupils preponderate in number, the representation on future boards of management of community schools should reflect this preponderance?
I made my proposals, as I said, on the basis of the whole situation.
The Minister should not think that he would get away with it as lightly as that——
The Minister is not in the least worried whether he gets away lightly or otherwise.
I think when it comes to sectarian elastic——
(Interruptions.)
Who is trying to smear now?
It is sectarian and I stand over it. May I ask the Minister by what stretch of the imagination he comes to the conclusion that the——
(Interruptions.)
May I ask the Minister how he arrives at the concept put forward by the Taoiseach in Cork that there will be a fair partnership?
This is a statistical question. It does not lend itself to such a supplementary.
I am entitled to ask——
The Deputy is not entitled to ask anything of the kind. It is a purely statistical question. Question No. 29.
In relation to Cork city area how is it proposed, in the concept of fair partnership lauded by the Taoiseach in Cork, to apply the proposals to an area which has no secondary pupils at this stage, no vocational school students, no secondary or vocational teachers? Would he accept. in that regard that his proposals are entirely unbalanced and entirely sectarian?
The Minister would not accept that his proposals are unbalanced. The Minister made his proposals on the basis of the situation which I have mentioned on many occasions in this House. I want to say that I abhor sectarianism and that it did not come from me or from any of the people on these benches. Any question of sectarianism came from the Opposition benches.
Whose proposal is it? The Opposition are not proposing it. It is the Minister.
I am calling Question No. 29.
May I point out——
The Deputy may not point out anything. I have called the next question. Will the Deputy please resume his seat? Question No. 29.
The Deputy will be asking questions on this tomorrow.
Will the Minister please answer Question No. 29?