andMr. Daly asked the Minister for Education if he will make an increased grant available for the provision of adequate primary educational facilities for children in Shannon, County Clare.
4.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shannon Educational Facilities.
3.
andMr. Daly asked the Minister for Education the proposals he has for the provision of adequate primary school facilities for children at Shannon, County Clare.
Mr. R. Burke
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.
A scheme of extension comprising eight additional classrooms is in the course of erection at Shannon No. 3 national school. A new 16 classroom school, Shannon No. 4, has already been approved by my Department. This with the existing accommodation should meet the needs of Shannon for the foreseeable future.
My Department have sanctioned generous grants for primary school building at Shannon, and I regret that I am not in a position to increase the grant beyond what has been offered.
Would the Minister not agree that this new town should get special consideration for an increased grant because it is growing so rapidly? Further, is the Minister aware that those living in this town are all young couples, with young families? Projections are that the numbers will reach about 25,000 in not very many years. For that reason, would the Minister reconsider the amount of money being made available, because Shannon should be treated as a very special case in view of the amount of money involved in the size of school needed?
Mr. R. Burke
I accept that it is a newly developing community. But I would want the Deputy to understand that we have in fact stretched the limits of generosity here almost to breaking point. I do not think I could hold out any hope for any increased allocation in respect of this school, even if I were to say that it is a special case. In any event, might I point out that, whilst the majority of managers of schools have to acquire sites for their schools at local expense, the sites for the Shannon schools have been provided free by the Shannon Free Airport Development Company, which in effect means that this additional help has been provided from State funds?
Is the Minister aware that the manager of the schools is just not able to raise the amount of money he is supposed to raise? Further, is the Minister aware that the banks because of previous commitments—he has said this publicly himself—are not prepared to advance the moneys and there is a very serious problem here with regard to the local contribution because the amount of money is so great? In view of this alone, would the Minister not consider that it should receive special consideration?
Mr. R. Burke
I am aware of the points made by the Deputy. I think he would be fair to the Department in acknowledging that the grant in this respect has been pushed to the upper limit possible under the circumstances. In view of the fact that there were no expenses involved with regard to the site, I think we have reached the limit of what he can do in the matter. I acknowledge the strongest representations from various interests but there is no point in my suggesting that there is any further help available in this respect.
Could the Minister say if there are any means under which he could permit the Shannon Free Airport Development Company to make a contribution towards the building of the school because I understand that the legislation under which they were set up precludes them from so doing? Could the Minister say if there is any method of which he is aware in his Department, under which they could make a contribution?
Mr. R. Burke
That is a question I would not like to answer here, but I will have the point investigated and if there is any such method I will communicate with the Deputy as soon as possible.