asked the Minister for Education what steps have been taken to implement the recommendations of the Kennedy report on industrial schools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Report on Industrial Schools.
44.
Measures taken since November, 1970—the date of issue of the Kennedy report—in the general interest and for the welfare of children in care may be broadly summarised as follows:
(a) A new school has been opened in Finglas and a further new building to serve as a remand and assessment centre is to be available there in the autumn; the total estimated cost is £560,000.
(b) A contract has been placed for the erection of a new school at Oberstown, County Dublin. It is expected to be ready early in 1973. The estimated cost is £350,000. As soon as it becomes available, St. Conleth's Reformatory School, Daingean, will be closed.
(c) A contract has been placed for a group home building for one of the residential homes (industrial schools) and plans are well advanced for the building of a further number of such group homes.
(d) Buildings have been reconstructed and adapted in the case of some residential homes for the purpose of the provision of self-contained apartments for small groups of children.
(e) Detached or semi-detached houses have been bought in some suburban areas to provide residential accommodation for small groups of children in a family setting.
(f) More favourable pupil-teacher ratios and more flexible staffing arrangements have been introduced for children who do not attend the ordinary primary and post-primary schools.
(g) A special one-year's course in child care on an annual basis has been introduced for younger members of the staffs of the residential homes (industrial schools) and special schools (reformatory schools); in-service courses have been introduced for senior members on the staffs of these schools and some members have also attended—or are attending—recognised courses abroad.
(h) With effect from 1st July, 1972, a grant equivalent to the full statutory grant may be paid from the Vote for Reformatory and Industrial Schools in respect of children of more than 17 years of age who are following a course of education suited to their aptitudes and interests. In this connection children who have the required ability are being encouraged not only to complete a full post-primary course of education but also subsequently to proceed to third-level education.
(i) Provision has been made in the Estimate for 1972-3 in the Vote for Reformatory and Industrial Schools for an increase of 20 per cent as from 1st July, 1972, in the current rate of the capitation grant payable to the schools. The current rate is £8.25 per week and this has operated since the 1st August, 1969.
(j) The estimated amount of expenditure from the Vote for reformatory and industrial schools for the period to 31st March, 1973, in respect of capital works—new buildings, reconstruction, adaptation, purchase of houses et cetera—in relation to the projects mentioned above is £1 million approximately. In addition further heavy capital costs were incurred for the same purposes by the authorities of the schools concerned.
Whichever Vote it will come under it will not be the Vote for Reformatories and Industrial Schools. I will put a simple question to the Parliamentary Secretary: why is the reformatory school in Daingean closed down? Is it because the Oblate Fathers were so badly treated by the Department of Education——
It has not been closed.
Should it not be closed?
It is no longer necessary. Deputy O'Donovan must be disappointed at the extent of the progress being made.
The Parliamentary Secretary attempted to submerge me in verbiage.
If I were to cover the full range I would be speaking for two hours.