asked the Minister for Education whether his policy on community schools envisages that Protestant interests which desire representation on boards of management, will be entitled to such representation on payment of a fee; if an offer of representation on such terms was extended to any representative Protestant group in connection with the formation of the board of management of the new community school in Balally, County Dublin; and the response he received to any such offer.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Community School Boards of Management .
27.
: In areas where the Protestant population wishes to have their second level education needs served by the local community school, I would consider the question of Protestant participation in the board of management of the school in consultation with the other interests involved. This participation would entail payment of an agreed share of the local contribution.
The possible involvement of Protestants in the management of the community school in Balally including the question of payment of a share of the local contribution, was discussed at a meeting in February 1980 between officials of my Department and representatives of the Taney National School Parents' Association. Subsequent to this meeting the association did not pursue the matter further with my Department.
: I wish to pin the Minister down on one specific point. Has an offer been extended and has he received a response to that offer?
: The deputation met top Departmental officials. They were asked what their views were on this form of representation, and as I have indicated the association did not pursue the matter further with my Department. The chairman indicated there was less interest in it than he had thought originally.
: Is the Minister saying that a formal offer was not made during the discussions and that therefore the question of a response did not arise?
: The discussions that took place suggested that there could have been a follow-on if the deputation had wanted it. The Deputy was a member of the deputation which was received early on in my time in the Department. Many of the deputation were pushing for the type of community school they have in Balally.
: In the light of the Minister's categoric refusal to confirm that a firm offer was made to the Protestant community, can I enlighten him that his colleague, Deputy Andrews, said an offer had been made and turned down? Was Deputy Andrews talking through his hat?
: If there is one thing I resent above others it is Deputy Horgan using the medium of Parliamentary Questions to attack a fellow Deputy in his contituency, and a good one, on sectarian grounds.