(Cavan) asked the Minister for Education if vocational education committees are permitted to spend money in providing playing grounds for vocational schools; and, if so, why permission was refused to Cavan Vocational Education Committee to provide recreational grounds at Belturbet and Bawnboy schools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Vocational School Recreational Grounds.
59.
Vocational education committees are empowered to purchase or lease land for the provision of playing grounds at vocational schools.
The proposals in the case of Belturbet and Bawnboy would have involved the giving of grants to bodies which had no legal standing as far as the County Cavan Vocational Education Committee was concerned. There is no legislative provision which would enable the committee to make grants to such bodies.
(Cavan): Is the Minister aware that in so far as Belturbet vocational school is concerned the proposal was to enter into an arrangement with a voluntary body who had land immediately beside the school whereby for a small sum of money the students attending the vocational school would have the use of the playground under an agreement, if necessary? Surely the Minister would consider that a satisfactory arrangement? In the case of Bawnboy the committee actually owned the land in respect of which they proposed to enter into an arrangement with another voluntary body. Surely the Minister would agree that such arrangements as were proposed in Belturbet and Bawnboy are in the interests, first of all, of the vocational school students but secondly, and equally if not more important, that they are in the interests of the local community and should be encouraged?
In the case of Belturbet, the tennis courts would not be on the committee's property or under their control.
(Cavan): They are adjacent to it.
In the case of Bawnboy, they would be school property all right but they would be provided by a tennis court committee and the committee were informed in March, 1972, that the proposals could not be sanctioned as there did not appear to be legislative provision which would enable the committee to make grants in the manner proposed.
(Cavan): In this day and age when we are talking about community schools and community effort, surely the Minister would agree that this sort of thing should be encouraged? Would the Minister look into the matter with a view to amending the legislation, if necessary, to make it possible?
I do not know that it would be all that wise to amend legislation. I would have to consider it very carefully.
(Cavan): Why not?
Is there any football pitch attached to either of these two schools?
That question has not been asked.
It is the most obvious recreational facility required in this country.
(Cavan): The Minister's reply indicates very out-of-date thinking.
So far as the Minister is concerned there are many others who think he has very advanced thinking on practically everything.
Completely out of step with everyone else.
To whom is that evident?
To the people of this country.