asked the Minister for Education his proposals in relation to the carrying out of repairs to Creevagh national school, Carrowmore Lacken, Lacken, Ballina, County Mayo.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo School.
10.
Mr. R. Burke
I have reviewed the position as regards Creevagh NS, and I am satisfied that the best interests of the children concerned would be served by its amalgamation with Carrowmore NS in the Carrowmore school, to form a three-teacher school unit. The expense involved in having repairs carried out to Creevagh NS would, therefore, not be justified.
Can the Minister explain the pressures behind the decision of the Department to change the previous decision which he outlined to me on the 7th November, 1973, when he said that his Department were sanctioning a grant for the provision of water plus sanitation, thermal storage heating and fluorescent lighting at Creevagh national school and that the Office of Public Works had been asked to ensure that the works would be carried out as soon as possible?
Quotations are not permitted at Question Time.
The Deputy does not annoy the Ceann Comhairle very often. I should like the Minister to inform me why the decision of the Department of Education was changed; who brought the pressures?
Mr. R. Burke
I would not accept the Deputy's imputation of pressure in this regard. The question of the amalgamation of Creevagh and Carrowmore has been on file for a long time and it has been decided to form a three-teacher school as an interim measure pending the formation of a central school for Creevagh, Carrowmore and Banaher. It is considered that the expenditure of the amount of money involved, over £3,500, would not be warranted in this case.
Would the Minister accept that the parents concerned do not want amalgamation with Carrowmore? The school at Banaher has been erected only for the past six or seven years——
The question refers only to repairs. The Deputy is introducing the matter of amalgamation.
With respect, the Minister introduced the question of amalgamation.
The Chair is concerned only with the subject matter of the question.
Therefore, I am entitled to ask a supplementary concerning amalgamation.
The Chair must be the judge of that.
As I am not satisfied with the reply I intend with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
Is the Lacken in question here the same place as we were talking of the other day?
Deputy Molloy did not know where that was.
The Minister upset the applecart.
That Bill has passed through the House.
And without opposition, too.