asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that an assembly hall was sanctioned in 1968 for Saint Benedict's School, Grange Park, Raheny, Dublin but that erection of the hall was postponed because grants were not available for such purposes at that time; and if he will now make the necessary arrangements to have it provided.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin School Assembly Hall.
42.
It is true that plans for this new school, prepared by an architect commissioned by the manager, included provision for an assembly hall but this feature was not included in the plans subsequently sanctioned. The practice of providing assembly halls in connection with national schools has been discontinued for some seven years, since it is considered that general purposes rooms, varying in size in relation to the pupil accommodation of the schools, serve educational requirements much better than do assembly halls.
As I informed the Deputy on Thursday 25th October, 1973, sanction has been given for the extension of St. Benedict's National School by the addition of a large general purposes room. This room will have a floor area of 2,400 square feet and while it will be designed primarily for use in connection with educational activities it will serve, also, the other purposes for which a school assembly hall might ordinarily be used.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say when the physical work will begin on the general purposes room? He has indicated that this work has been sanctioned.
I could not give the Deputy that information now.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that, due to a variety of circumstances, this school is lacking in a number of ordinary amenities and facilities? Would he be prepared to have a personal look at the file and endeavour to have something done in respect of the general deficiencies in regard to the school particularly since the school is important from the point of view that it caters for both boys and girls and, consequently, it should be given every possible opportunity to succeed in its purposes? Far from that, however, it is operating under a serious handicap by reason of the lack of fundamental amenities and facilities.
The Deputy will appreciate that the Minister, in replying to seven questions from the Deputy on this matter on 21st October, 1973, dealt fully with the situation.
Fully, perhaps, but not satisfactorily.