asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date position regarding his Department's plans for post-primary education in Achill, County Mayo.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo Post-Primary Education.
12.
Mr. R. Burke
Post-primary education in Achill is provided by a vocational school and a voluntary secondary school. I have approved the provision of new premises for the vocational school.
Is the Minister satisfied that this is the best and most suitable arrangement for post-primary education in this area?
Mr. R. Burke
No.
Can the Minister say what he regards as being the most suitable arrangement for post-primary education in this area?
Mr. R. Burke
The proposal put originally by my predecessor and continued by me, that is, that there should be a community school for Achill. As the Deputy knows we have not been able to achieve the desired co-operation.
Can the Minister state why it has not been possible to provide a community school?
Mr. R. Burke
Because the management of one of the schools involved have not considered themselves able to co-operate in the desired plan.
Can the Minister tell the House why the co-operation sought has not been achieved? Was there a cash offer to the secondary school authority or have they given any reason for not being able to cooperate?
Mr. R. Burke
It is not customary in this House to detail amounts of money passing between the Department and individual management authorities.
Since the Minister has said that he regards a community school to be the best solution to the problem, in what way did he indicate his leadership to the people of the area concerned to ensure the establishment of a community school?
Mr. R. Burke
In the customary fashion which all the Ministers for Education have followed down through the years.
I am ignorant as to what is the customary fashion of leadership in such matters.
We cannot debate the matter. There has been a series of questions in relation to it.
Can the Minister say at what stage is this matter now? I understand negotiations have been going on for some time. Has the site been bought yet?
Mr. R. Burke
As the Deputy knows, negotiations on this matter are continuing. Certain conditions which had been requested by the convent concerned have now been dropped and we are in a position to find an agreeable solution to the problem. Other points of contention are likely to be agreed on shortly so that we expect to be able to move ahead fairly quickly.