asked the Minister for Education the proposals he has for a new primary school in Grange, County Sligo.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Sligo Schools.
6.
A decision has been taken to provide a new school at Grange and the Commissioners of Public Works have been requested to report on the suitability of a site which has been offered for the new building. Should the site prove suitable, the planning of the new school will be undertaken by the commissioners.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there are 163 pupils on the rolls there at present and that this school was built in the first instance for 90 pupils and a prefab has been attached to it for 30 more leaving approximately 43 students with no proper accommodation? Is the Parliamentary Secretary further aware that a total of 20 children have been refused entrance to this school already this year?
I am aware that there is a serious accommodation problem in Grange. I am also aware that the Department have considered the educational needs of the area and have proposed to the manager that a new central school to cater for the children of Grange, Cairn and Derrylaghan be considered in detail.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary state why the Department have not agreed to the proposal put forward by the manager for the appointment of a fifth teacher or a fourth principal, or assistant principal in this school, and why they have not agreed to the provision of a prefab for the extra numbers of pupils who are already there and the new pupils who wish to start school?
The question relating to the appointment of teachers does not arise in this question. It is a question which concerns buildings. In relation to the provision of a prefab there are problems with the existing site not being big enough to accommodate much more building of any sort. For that reason the question of building a school on a new site is being considered. When that has been taken in hand it is considered best that there should be a reorganisation of educational facilities generally in the area, including the amalgamation of the school at Cairn and Derrylaghan. Consultations to this end are proceeding with all due speed.
Would the parliamentary Secretary agree that in view of the figures I have given and the fact that there is not even a suitable site for the school it could be three to five years before a new school would be provided at Grange? In view of the fact that the Parliamentary Secretary and his Department have written to the manager saying that he should not take any more pupils in the school where will these children be educated? Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree to the sensible proposal of another prefab?
Order. The Deputy is repeating himself.
I will undertake to have the question of a prefab examined. That is not to be interpreted as putting the long-term proposals for a new school on the long finger. The Commissioners of Public Works have recently been asked to inspect a site which has been offered and furnish a report on its suitability for a school, presumably of the magnitude appropriate for an amalgamated school.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary not agree?
7.
asked the Minister for Education when permission will be given to invite tenders for the extension of St. Ann's national school, Cranmore, Sligo.
The Commissioners of Public Works have been asked to arrange for the invitation of tenders for the extension of St. Ann's national school, Cranmore, Sligo.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary tell us when this will be done? Arrangements have been made but when will the advertisements go out?
The Office of Public Works were authorised on 21st April, 1976 to advise the manager to invite tenders.
Advertisements can now go in?
The manager has been advised that as of 21st April he may do so.