asked the Minister for Education the number and location of the community schools planned for (a) Dublin city, (b) Dublin county and (c) the rest of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
56.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Community Schools.
55.
asked the Minister for Education if a decision has been taken on the size of the proposed community schools at Tallaght and Blanchardstown, County Dublin; the number of pupils to attend each school; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
57.
asked the Minister for Education the number of pupils envisaged for the proposed community schools in (a) Dublin city, (b) Dublin county and (c) the rest of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 56 and 57 together. As I have already stated on a number of occasions, it is proposed to develop community schools in the new areas of the cities instead of providing separate secondary and vocational schools. In the case of other areas where there are two or three small schools in need of replacement it is the intention to develop community schools in these areas instead of replacing the existing schools. As regards size of school my Department are operating on the basis of about 400 pupils being necessary for an adequate post-primary school providing courses up to leaving certificate level and catering for the aptitudes and ability of all the pupils. In the case of Tallaght and Blanchardstown, it is envisaged that each of these schools will cater eventually for 1,600 pupils, 800 boys and 800 girls.
Is it envisaged that the Tallaght and Blanchardstown schools would each cater for 1,600 pupils?
Yes.
Is this an established figure now in relation to community schools in general?
It could not be an established figure because, as I pointed out previously, in the various rural areas where I propose building community schools the existing buildings are small and are in bad condition. Instead of building three separate schools I propose to build one community school. In such circumstances, the number would be very much smaller than that.
Could the Minister indicate the number of community schools planned for Dublin city and county and the rest of the country?
I could not give the Deputy that number at the moment.
Could he give me some indication?
I did say on many occasions that, apart from Tallaght and Blanchardstown, we have 25 areas in mind. I think I announced the actual places with which we were concerned.
Would the Minister give me a list of those places?
Yes, I will.
Could I ask the Minister whether the plan for community schools published in The Irish Times represents the intention and will he reconsider it in view of the obvious undesirable features of the plan in which most of the rooms have no access to a window and in which there is complete segregation rather than the co-education towards which we have been aiming?
I do not accept that the plans are unsuitable. The plan in question is flexible and can be adapted to varying numbers and so on.
Would the Minister not agree that a plan in which most of the rooms have no windows is hardly flexible, when the only way in which you can get a window is to blow a hole in the middle of the building and create courtyards?
I am quite satisfied with the plan.
No windows? You would think they were battery hens instead of children.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.