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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 31 May 1978

Vol. 307 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers . - Artane (Dublin) Infants' School .

1.

asked the Minister for Education the steps he intends to take to replace with a suitable permanent structure at Scoil Éanna Infants School, Ardlea Road, Artane, Dublin, the unsuitable and rapidly deteriorating wooden chalets which were intended to act only as temporary structures.

: The matter of the replacement by a permanent building of the existing temporary premises in which Scoil Éanna is being conducted is at present under investigation by my Department. The primary schoOl population in the area has declined in recent years and, according to information provided by the chairman of the board of management, this decline is likely to continue to the extent that the permanent accommodation in the two nearby schools—Kilmore Road National School and St. John of God National School—will be more than adequate to meet primary school accommodation requirements in the area. Whether or not there will be continuing need for Scoil Éanna obviously, therefore, comes into question. However, before a final decision is taken as to the future of Scoil Éanna all relevant considerations will be taken into account.

: The Minister surely knows that this is a school where the classrooms are very small, very hot in the summer and very cold in winter. Would he not agree that, no matter what trends he outlined of the changing age of the population, no generation of young people should have to go through schooling in a temporary school of this kind which is rapidly deteriorating and which has been there for over 10 years?

: That is a question from the particular to the general.

: Would the Minister not agree that it is wrong that young people in the Department for which he is responsible should have to continue their education in conditions of this kind?

: I would like to comment on the Deputy's supplementary. That report which I received from my inspector stated that two of the classrooms were in very good condition, eight in good condition and eight in fair condition.

: Whatever the inspector's reply may be, the parents of the children attending the school are extremely angry and on the question of replacement they are not prepared to take no for an answer. At the meeting at which this matter was discussed both the secretary of the INTO and the president of the INTO were present. They both accepted the condemnation of the school and agreed to give every support they could in ensuring that a new school would be provided in this area, including the question of strike action on 1 October.

: Question No. 2.

: If there were a final decision to make a permanent structure there I would agree that most of the propositions put forward by the Deputy would be correct but my dilemma is that I am informed by people who have local knowledge that the numbers are going down and that the other two schools in the area in a short time will be able to cater for the pupils there. No final decision has been taken in my Department, and arrangements are being made to meet people from the area who are concerned.

: The local information which the Minister received——

: We cannot have a lot of supplementaries on a local question.

: ——to my great surprise was completely repudiated on the night of the public meeting. The parish priest believes that they do not need a school at present.

: I expect that when the Chairman of the Board of Management was speaking he was speaking as Chairman of the Board of Management upon which parents would be represented. I do not want to make it a matter of acrimony. The position is as I outlined, and there is no closed mind on the matter.

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