asked the Minister for Education the plans that are in hand to correct the serious social problem indicated recently in a report (details supplied) of a survey carried out by Ballyfermot Community Association.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ballyfermot (Dublin) Community Association.
12.
In so far as social problems can be tackled within the context of the educational system the position in Ballyfermot has been receiving the joint attention of educational authorities for many years.
The advisory council on post-primary accommodation in the greater Dublin area which was set up in 1966 gave special consideration to Ballyfermot area from the beginning of its operations. The City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee appointed a special sub-committee in February 1973 with the objectives of:
1. To develop the concept of vocational education in a way relevant and meaningful to the Ballyfermot community.
2. To involve the Ballyfermot community in wider and more responsible participation in its own education.
The sub-committee is representative of the Ballyfermot Community Association, AnCO, the Federated Union of Employers and the trade unions as well as the primary and post-primary schools in the area. It was agreed in 1975 that a senior cycle college for 500 pupils be provided in Ballyfermot to be operated by a board of management representative of the vocational education committee and the Ballyfermot Community Association as well as the authorities of the existing secondary schools in the area who were prepared to co-ordinate their courses with those of the new senior cycle college. Schedules of accommodation for the new building have been completed and the remaining stages of the planning and building process are being expedited as much as possible.
As the Deputy will appreciate from what I have already said, considerable progress has been made in bringing the local community association into co-operative activity with the existing educational authorities with a view to the development of facilities and courses suited to the needs of the area. It does not appear to me that it would be desirable at this stage to interrupt the flow of this fruitful co-operation by making a declaration of an educational priority area and providing a special local educational authority as recommended in the survey carried out by the community association.
Do I take it that work will start immediately on a community college in the Ballyfermot area? Will the Minister indicate whether in future there will be vocational education for girls in the Ballyfermot area? Is he aware from the survey carried out that 79 per cent of the school leavers interviewed left school before the age of 16 years? Is he aware that as a result of the social problem mentioned in the question, of the 79 per cent who left school before the age of 16 years, 23 per cent are unemployed? In addition 24 per cent of their fathers are unemployed and 40 per cent have left the area. This is the situation in Ballyfermot.
Order. Brief questions, please.
Something must be done immediately to ensure that priority is given to this distressed area in the educational field as requested.
This is a speech we are having.
Will the Minister rethink the situation? Is he also aware that 75 per cent——
Deputy Dowling, please. This is Question Time.
Could I ask the Minister is he aware that 75 per cent of those interviewed received no formal——
I am afraid I shall have to ask the Deputy to desist.
I put down a question to the Minister.
The Deputy will desist. This is Question Time. We must proceed by way of question and answer. The Deputy is imparting information rather than seeking it, and making a speech rather than putting relevant questions.
May I ask a question?
Certainly.
I put down Question No. 12 to the Taoiseach to extract information. It was passed on, not at my bidding, to the Minister for Education. This covers a much wider field than education. The social problem in Ballyfermot is not confined to education.
Order. The Deputy will have to find another time to air this grievance.
A Ceann Comhairle——
The Deputy will resume his seat.
Can the Minister——
I have said the Deputy will resume his seat.
Can the Minister——
Is the Deputy going to defy the Chair?
I am not going to defy the Chair. I want fair play in this House.
I have afforded the Deputy every opportunity.
On the last three occasions when I asked supplementary questions you cut me out.
I have afforded the Deputy every opportunity of asking questions.
I had to raise matters on the adjournment twice. This is a very depressed area. If you do not care about it and the Minister does not care about it, somebody must care about it.
The Deputy will obey the Chair.
I will obey the Chair but I want answers to the questions I asked.
Will the Deputy please allow the Minister to answer?
I will not be put off this serious matter which affects the people of my constituency.
The Deputy will obey the rules of this House in respect of Question Time.
Will the Minister answer the questions I asked?
The Deputy will conform to the rules appertaining to Question Time.
The special educational needs of Ballyfermot have been recognised for a long time, as I read out in my reply to the question. A committee was set up to develop the concept of vocational education in a way relevant and meaningful to the Ballyfermot community and to involve the Ballyfermot community in wider and more responsible participation in its own education. It is regrettable that the siting of the senior cycle school has taken so long. The Deputy is probably more familiar from local knowledge that I am with the problems involved in regard to sites. That has been resolved and it is hoped that as early as possible in the new year the project will go out for tender. The school will be in operation as soon after that as is physically possible.
What about vocational education for girls? Are there any immediate plans to ensure that the female section of the community are catered for?
They will be catered for in the senior cycle school. The existing teaching order of nuns in the area are represented on the management board.
On a vocational basis? In the same way as the vocational schools?
Does the Deputy mean a separate vocational school for girls?
Yes.
That would be most unusual. There is not one in the country.
There are 35,000 people in this compact area with 5,000 homes. Does the Minister not consider assistance should be given in this exceptional area where there is a pressing need?
The fact that it is a special area has been recognised.
There is a vocational school for girls in Crumlin.
Is there?
Yes. Will the Minister examine the situation?
I will be glad to do that. Perhaps I am not familiar with the local situation in depth, but I will be glad to do anything I can to help.