asked the Minister for Education if it is intended to build more vocational schools in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
28.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Building and Operation of Schools.
27.
asked the Minister for Education if it is intended to build more comprehensive schools throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
29.
asked the Minister for Education the number of community schools expected to be in operation in this country by 31st December next.
30.
asked the Minister for Education if he will state the present position concerning the structure of the boards of management of community schools.
With your permission a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 28, 29 and 30 together.
A number of vocational and comprehensive schools are at various stages of planning; construction of some of these will commence shortly. The Community school in Tallaght and Blanchardstown will come into operation next September. Community schools in two rural centres may also came into operation at that time. Negotiations are proceeding in a number of centres but these projects are not expected to come into operation until September, 1973, and in some cases September, 1974. The position in regard to the structure of the boards of management of these schools remains as already announced, that is, a six member board of management, normally two religious, two representatives of the local vocational education committee and two parents.
Will the Minister state how many there will be by 31st December this year?
I have given the answer to the question asked.
What is the total?
I have given the answer to the question asked.
The Minister answered four questions together. They are four completely different questions. This is an abuse of Question Time. The Minister should not lump four different questions together.
The Deputy is abusing Question Time.
He is not. The Minister answered four completely different questions together and that is an abuse of Question Time.
What is the total number of community schools which will be in operation next September?
Tallaght and Blanchardstown and community schools in two rural centres may also come into operation at that time.
While I am upset that the Minister chose to reply to four distinctly different questions at the same time, I must ask him some questions in relation to each of them. The first question is a straightforward one. Is it not a fact that there are no more vocational schools being built in the country other than replacement schools? Secondly, is it not a fact, in relation to comprehensive schools under the aegis of the local vocational committees, that it has been decided not to build any more comprehensive schools of this type? Thirdly, in relation to the community schools which are to come into operation by the end of this year, what is the position in relation to the trustees, what is the position in relation to the board of management other than Blanchardstown and Tallaght? What is the position in relation to the advisory committees in these community schools? What is the position concerning teacher representation on boards of management?
I have, on many occasions, pointed out that we propose in the newly built-up areas in the cities to build such schools rather than build separate type schools and that we propose to build community schools also in 25 areas which I specified, that is small towns in rural Ireland where it was necessary to rebuild, where the buildings in fact were bad——
Without consultation.
Where we could get agreement. I can fully appreciate the annoyance of the Deputies opposite who make all sorts of charges against the Minister——
Such as charges of sectarianism.
——in relation to the community schools, who called him sectarian, who spoke——
And rightly so.
——in very derogatory terms in relation to this whole matter. I can fully appreciate their annoyance because I have succeeded in getting these community schools off the ground.
(Interruptions.)
Question No. 31.
The Deputies should try to emulate the attitude of the Minister in these things. Keep cool and calm.
(Interruptions.)
I would suggest that the Deputies opposite keep cool as I have had to do over a year and they will find that they may be equally successful.
The Minister will be very saddened to learn that I will not keep cool where our pupils are at risk. In the Minister's activities they are at risk and I will not keep cool.
Order. Question No. 31.
I would also like to remind the Deputies opposite that the basic consideration here is comprehensive education. Such education can be provided in secondary schools, vocational schools, comprehensive schools or community schools provided that the school is sufficiently large to provide the necessary broad curriculum.
1,600 pupils. I must point out that the Minister has not answered any of the relevant questions which I put to him. It is a disgrace that he has not done so.