asked the Minister for Education when he intends to make a decision on the type of post-primary school to be built in Tallaght and Blanchardstown, County Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Post-Primary Educational Needs.
33.
It is my intention that the post-primary educational needs of both these areas will be met by the provision of community schools.
May I ask the Minister when it is intended to have the so-called consultative meetings held in Tallaght and in Blanchardstown and whom he intends to invite to such meetings?
Would the Minister add in his answer when this is likely to take place and where?
In relation to the schools themselves, we would hope to get off the ground in both areas with prefabs by September, 1972. We will hold a meeting prior to that date, and they will be public meetings.
Will this be in Tallaght and Blanchardstown?
In the catchment area of both schools.
Is there a decision as to where the schools will be sited?
Yes. One school will be sited in Tallaght and the other in Blanchardstown.
Tallaght is a large area.
The Tallaght school will be sited some distance from where the Tallaght vocational school is at present situated. In regard to where the Blanchardstown vocational school is at present, the site is not large enough. However, we have practically completed the negotiations in relation to a site for the Blanchardstown school.
Is the Minister aware that there is a tremendous mystification in Tallaght as to what exactly is going on and as to where the school is likely to be situated? Is this a recent decision?
No, not to my knowledge.
Would the Minister say if, in calling together the so-called representatives of Tallaght and Blanchardstown, it is intended to issue invitations to representatives of the Church of Ireland, a minority denomination in both areas?
Since the Deputy has made such an effort to make an issue of this, I can tell him it is the intention.
(Interruptions.)
In connection with these proposed meetings and, indeed, the representation of the board of management, would the Minister say whether it is possible for the vocational committee in the area to nominate a Church of Ireland representative on the board of management?
Yes. The vocational education committee can nominate anybody it likes on the board of management.
Bearing in mind that, according to the Minister's regulations, the Dublin Vocational Education Committee will be obliged to send a list of persons to the local bishop, is it not rather unlikely that a Church of Ireland representative will be included?
This is exactly where the misunderstanding is in relation to this whole business.
It is not a misunderstanding.
What has happened here to the Deputy and appears to be happening in so far as most of the discussion is concerned, is that people are mixing up the trustees and the board of management. In relation to the board of management—and I think it was the board of management which was referred to by Deputy Tunney— there will be six representatives, four of whom will be nominated by the authorities of the private schools. Two of these must be parents in the area and the other two will be nominated by the Vocational Education Committee and they do not have to send the list to anybody. They nominate whomsoever they wish.
Question No. 34.
May I ask the Minister, in respect of areas of this kind, where the school is to be a new school what private school authorities will have the right to nominate two-thirds of the management?
Hear, hear.
This will be decided in relation to the private school authorities who will be involved and there were private school authorities involved here before this project got off the ground.
But how will they be involved if it is a new school?
Question No. 34. We cannot discuss this question any longer.
They will be involved.
Will the Minister nominate a religious order and will they nominate the parents' representatives? Is that the chain of command?
May I ask the Minister how he can conceivably define the teaching authorities involved when there are no secondary school authorities in either the Blanchardstown or Tallaght catchment areas at present?
There are a considerable number of children at present from these catchment areas attending other secondary schools. There is a demand for secondary school education from some of the parents and this would in the normal way be set up through private school authorities and these private school authorities will be those who will nominate their representatives.
I am calling Question No. 34.
Does the Minister mean the existing private schools in the catchment areas will do the nominating?
No. There are no such schools in these areas.
Who?
Those who would be responsible for the private schools.
How will they be responsible?
I am calling Question No. 34.
I wish to raise the subject-matter of this question on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.