asked the Minister for Education if any review of central city educational facilities is under consideration; if he is aware that central city educational facilities are not up to the level of other suburban Dublin areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Urban Educational Facilities.
7.
The question of the educational facilities being provided in all national schools is constantly under review in my Department. In recent years the provision of new school premises has been mainly in suburban areas and most of the central city school buildings are long established. The latter, however, are in general well maintained and works of improvement are carried out as necessary.
Similar attention is given by the vocational education committee to schools within its jurisdiction.
Secondary schools are private institutions but many receive grants towards capital expenditure involved in the provision of premises where the need for such is established.
Will the Minister address himself specifically to the second part of the question which asks him if he is aware that central city educational facilities are not up to the level of other suburban Dublin areas? Will the Minister accept that contention in relation to the facilities, not of course in relation to the teachers? Does he draw any inference from it and does he propose to take any action on it?
I should like to inform the Deputy that the East Wall schools, the Seville Place Schools, Rutland Street school and Gardiner Street convent school at the moment are subject to rationalisation. We are hoping to improve the facilities by rationalisation plans. The provision of a new school to replace Gardiner Street convent national school is under consideration. Is that information of any help to the Deputy?
It helps as far as primary education is concerned, but perhaps the Minister might address himself to the question of post-primary education. The statement referred to education in general.
The second-level schools in the city centre area, especially secondary schools, are generally large and they take in a substantial number of pupils from outside the immediate area. If they did not do so they would have a considerable number of vacant places. For instance, in the north central constituency area in the 1976-77 school year the total intake of second-level pupils was 1,683—942 to secondary schools and 741 to vocational schools. The total number of primary school-leavers in the area was 1,004 and the Deputy will see that almost 700 came from outside the area. The Department would not accept that central city second-level schools have inferior facilities as compared with schools in other parts of Dublin.
8.
asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that children in urban areas, especially in inner city areas, are significantly educationally deprived relative to the rest of the country; and if he will make a comprehensive statement on the Government's policy in this regard.
I do not accept that children in urban areas, especially in inner city areas, are significantly educationally deprived relative to the rest of the country.
Some children in inner city areas may be socially and culturally—as distinct from educationally—deprived, but so also may children in provincial towns where the problems may be on a smaller scale. It is important to realise that problems inherent in educational deprivation have to be dealt with in the schools in which they are identified. Nevertheless, it has also to be recognised that there is a limit to what the school can do to remedy the problems which arise in this connection. The experience gained from the Rutland Street project is useful in the assessment of this situation.
Despite the Minister's assertion, is he aware that in parts of the inner city areas of Dublin 80 per cent of the children leave after national school education and that only 18 per cent of the young people in some areas receive full secondary education?
I am not quite sure if that is related to the Deputy's question. I mentioned that while we do our part educationally and try to improve the facilities, the social problems can be great. We have services dealing with school attendance and so on and I have met the responsible people. We try to keep in touch with the situation as best we can. If people are not anxious to go to the schools it is difficult to get them to do so.
Research has shown that in some cases 80 per cent of the young people in the inner city areas of Dublin leave after national school education and only 18 per cent of them complete secondary education.
Perhaps the Deputy would let me know his source for those statistics. I am fully aware of the results of the Rutland Street Project. This is not the place to discuss them.
One source I am sure the Minister is familiar with is Micheál Mac Greil and his studies.
I am aware of the studies but I am not convinced that, except for very confined areas, the Deputy's story is generally true about the inner city area.
I did not say that. I referred to substantial tracts of it.
We will try to improve it together.