andMr. Donegan asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of a projected shortfall of 120 pupil places in secondary schools in the Drogheda, County Louth, catchment area at the commencement of the next academic year; and if he will indicate, by reference to each school in the area, the proposals before him or which he intends to initiate to deal with the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drogheda Educational Catchment Area.
22.
I am satisfied that places will be available for all pupils seeking entry to second level education in Drogheda in September 1978.
In regard to the matter of the provision of additional accommodation, I may state that an extension, to bring its capacity to 675 places, has been approved for Our Lady's College, Greenhills, and that additional accommodation has recently been provided by the Sacred Heart Convent of Mercy. Approval has also been given for new premises for a vocational school at Rathmullen.
I am glad that the Minister is satisfied about the position in September, but is he aware that a special survey committee set up by the parents in the catchment area have come up with this figure of a projected shortfall of 120 places in the next academic year? Will he state whether he has himself examined a submission made by the parents' committee and has satisfied himself that there will be no shortfall?
I am having difficulty in relating the position of the shortfall to that which the parents would claim. The figures I have indicate that this year leaving the secondary school, having completed intermediate and leaving certificate courses, will be 730 students and that there are places for 740.
Is the Minister satisfied that in drawing up his survey he has taken into account all national schools from which children come to secondary schools in Drogheda and not just those strictly within the Drogheda catchment area?
The Deputy would be more familiar with the situation than I, but St. Joseph's CBS and Scoil Mhuire CBS in respect of boys and Our Lady's College at Greenhills, the Sacred Heart Convent of Mercy, Drogheda Grammar School and the vocational schools are post-primary schools which have been examined. In so far as primary schools in the Drogheda catchment area are concerned and which have been examined, this year there is a total of 770 students in sixth and seventh classes in these schools and, assuming they all look for places in the post-primary schools I have mentioned, there would only, at the very most, be a shortfall of 35 places.
The Minister now admits there might be a shortfall. This is different from what he said in his reply.
The Deputy spoke about a shortfall of 120.
May I ask the Minister——
The Deputy may not ask local questions.
It is a local question but it is important.
Local questions are always all-important.
May I ask the Minister if, in view of the apparent conflict of evidence between the parents' committee and his Department, he would agree to have officials of his Department meet the parents' committee to sort the matter out once and for all?
I am always very happy—it is the practice in my Department—that officials of my Department should meet parents or representatives of parents to discuss any matter which refers to the education of their children.
23.
andMr. Bruton asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the fact that two diocesan authorities and three vocational education committees are involved in the area, he will set up a post-primary education planning committee for the Drogheda, County Louth catchment area, similar to those operating in Dublin and Cork.
While Drogheda is a developing town, with a growing school-going population, I do not consider that the problems involved in relation to provision of additional school places is such as to warrant the setting up of an advisory council for the area on a formal basis.
Would the Minister not agree that the fact that there are five separate educational authorities involved in planning in the Drogheda catchment area makes it difficult, even with the best will in the world, for conscious planning of post-primary facilities to take place in Drogheda and would he agree, if he will not set up a formal committee, to ask his officials to bring together the various interests involved informally on a continuing basis until the present apparent difficulties are ironed out over the next year or so?
The Deputy is not unaware of the fact that very shortly there will be a vocational school there catering for 900 students.
In Rathmullen.
Yes, and this must inevitably help the situation there. I take it the Deputy accepts there would not be the need in Drogheda that exists in places where advisory committees exist at the moment—Dublin, Cork and Limerick—and would not argue that we should establish such a committee in respect of Drogheda.
I disagree.
When the representatives of the parents come up to discuss the position generally with officials they can make their submission then in this regard.
Has the delay in planning permission for the provision of the new post-primary school at Rathmullen been overcome?
I am not too sure that it has been finally resolved, but I do not think it has.
Would the Minister take a personal look at the position because, if the delay continues, the Department's plans will not be realised?
I did last week make an inquiry and I will make another in relation to the up-to-date position. The position is that the objections would be with An Bord Pleanála.
Questions Nos. 24, 25, 26 and 27 are for written answer and Question No. 28 is postponed.