asked the Minister for Education the arrangements currently being made for the education of children who up to the end of the last school year attended the national school at Newtown, Moycullen, County Galway; and if he is satisfied that these children are currently receiving an adequate education.
Written Answers. - County Galway National School.
440.
Accommodation is available for the Newtown children in a newly built, fully equipped, school at Moycullen. This school provides excellent modern facilities for the children in question and my Department has arranged for them to have free transport to it.
441.
asked the Minister for Education if he will state, in relation to (a) Tullykyne national school, Moycullen, County Galway, and (b) Newtown national school, Moycullen, County Galway, (i) the number of pupils on the roll of each school; (ii) the number of teachers in each school; (iii) the sanitary facilities available in each school; (iv) if electric light and power are available in each school; (v) the date of construction of each school; and (vi) the present condition of each school building as assessed by his Department's inspectors.
The information sought by the Deputy is in the form of a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I intend to have circulated with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:—
|
Tullykyne |
Newtown |
|
|
(prior to closure) |
||
|
1. Number of pupils (average enrolment June Quarter'78) |
60 |
79 |
|
2. Number of Teachers |
2 |
2 |
|
3. Sanitary facilities |
Out-door dry toilets. No running water |
In-door flush toilets |
|
4. |
Electric light and power available. |
Electric light and power available. |
|
5. Date of construction |
1862 |
1900 |
|
6. Condition per Department's Inspector |
In bad state of repair |
Tolerable but not in good condition |
442.
asked the Minister for Education if he has decided to close Newtown national school, Moycullen, County Galway; and, if so, (a) when he took such a decision; (b) if he had any consultation with local parents about any proposed closure; (c) the reasons for any such decision; and (d) if he will explain to local parents why their school has been closed while a less well-equipped school at Moycullen remains open.
A decision was taken in 1971 that a new central school should be built in Moycullen and that Newtown national school would be amalgamated with the new school when built. This decision was taken after parents of the Newtown area had agreed to the proposals at public meetings in the area. It was on the basis of this agreement that arrangements for the erection of the new central school proceeded. The decision was taken in order to provide better educational facilities for the children of Moycullen parish.
I met a deputation of parents from the Newtown area in June, 1978 who put before me their views on the retention of their school. I gave careful consideration to the views expressed before confirming that amalgamation should proceed. Officials of my Department met a deputation of parents in September, 1978 and it was obvious from that meeting that the parents had, prior to meeting me, been misinformed about local meetings which took place in 1971.
In part (d) of his question, I take it that the Deputy is referring to Tullykyne and not to Moycullen. The essential difference between the two cases is that the Moycullen central school was never intended to cater for all the children attending Tullykyne, only those who are resident in the Moycullen parish.