Vol. 276 No. 5
asked the Minister for Education why his Department did not give a final reply to the Christian Brothers, Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary in accordance with promises made to them at a meeting on 4th July, 1974 in Apollo House, Dublin, concerning the proposed new separate school for them and to another promise to have the matter resolved by 31st October, 1974.
4.
asked the Minister for Education if he will sanction the normal grant for the Christian Brothers at Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, towards the erection of an independent separate post-primary school there; and, if not, if he intends to finance arrangements specified in a letter to his Department on 29th April, 1974.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.
Arrangements are being made for a discussion at an early date between the officials of my Department and the authorities of the school in regard to the question of the provision of new premises for the school.
Would the Minister inform me why his Department did not reply to promises made on 4th July to have the matter resolved before the school opening term in September and, on failing in September and following representations, his Department promised that this matter would be resolved by 31st October? The Minister has received numerous requests and letters to which he has not replied, except by formal acknowledgment. When were the arrangements to have a meeting commenced with the parents and school authorities?
Arrangements are being made to see the deputation and I would prefer to look forward at this point to that meeting. The arrangements were made recently on foot of their request.
Am I correct in stating that the arrangements were made at 5 o'clock last evening by telephone from the Department in view of this question? I was promised that a letter would be in the post to me this morning but by 3 p.m. today that letter had not arrived. I am still waiting for the Minister to give me the reasons why his Department did not have the courtesy to reply to my representations.
I want to facilitate the Deputy in seeking information but I cannot allow him to impart knowledge as he seems to be doing.
Why has the Minister's Department not replied?
That is not the function of the Chair.
I have sent letters to the various interested bodies and the meeting will take place shortly.
The Minister should reply to the question. This is not good enough.
I am calling the next question.
The indifference of the Chair to this matter is shocking. The Chair is one of the people most concerned.
I have allowed the Deputy a lot of latitude on this matter and he may not attack the Chair in that fashion.
Why was I not given a reply to questions I have down for more than a week when the remedy to those questions was put into motion at 5 o'clock last evening by the Minister's Department? I appreciate that the Minister may not have been able to get out from his Department earlier because of other protests but he should have replied to my specific questions.
I have replied to the questions at the first available opportunity which is now.
Why has the Minister not replied to my questions?
I have allowed the Deputy supplementary questions and the Deputy should remember that the Chair has no control over ministerial replies. The Chair cannot compel Ministers to answer if they do not wish to do so.
The Chair has been most helpful but the Chair should insist that the Minister gives a reply to my written questions which were submitted more than a week ago. The Minister has told me what he intends doing but he has not given me a reason why he has not answered my questions.
If the Deputy is not satisfied with the answer I have given he has his remedy.
Is the Minister aware of general complaints against his Department——
This is a general question and I cannot allow it.
——for failure to reply to this type of correspondence in recent months?
This is a specific question referring to a Carrick-on-Suir school and I cannot allow the Deputy's question.
