asked the Minister for Education if he has received the report from the parents' meeting in Knockgraffon School, Cahir, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Tipperary School.
48.
Mr. R. Burke
I have very recently received the report on the meeting of the parents of Knockgraffon regarding the question of amalgamating Knockgraffon national school with the schools at New Inn.
The matter is at present under consideration in my Department and it is hoped to reach a decision shortly.
Is the Minister aware that the parents were given to understand that if they agreed to keep the school open the Minister would automatically agree to keep it open?
Mr. R. Burke
The Deputy is couching his question in a way which makes it impossible to answer. He will have to say by whom that indication was given before I can answer properly.
That would be really laying it on the carpet for the Minister. Will the Minister leave the school open or not?
Mr. R. Burke
As I said in the reply, the matter is at present under active consideration.
Is the Minister using the general criterion that if the parents want to keep a school open and agree, having had all the points put to them, he will leave the school open?
Mr. R. Burke
It is a question of whether the representations made by the parents are well-founded, not simply that representations have been made by parents.
In other words, there is no such policy in the Department as leaving a school open just because the parents wish it?
Mr. R. Burke
We examine all these matters on the basis of the facts in each particular case.
The remaining questions will appear on the Order Paper for the next sitting day of the Dáil.