asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that the management of the Demesne Trust at Dunmore, County Galway have repeatedly refused to meet the management of Dunmore vocational school to discuss the purchase of approximately two acres of land for the purpose of a school extension; and if in view of the refusals, he will dismiss the trust and take the necessary action to make the land available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway School Extension.
22.
I am aware that the management of Dunmore vocational school have expressed interest in purchasing part of these trust lands but, as the Deputy will appreciate, my functions under the relevant trust scheme do not extend to the day-to-day administration of the trust lands and so long as the trust scheme is being observed I have no authority to intervene.
Is the Minister aware that the trust have already sold land to individuals for the building of houses, to the local GAA club for the development of a football field and to the school in question for some development? Is the Minister aware that the trust have refused to meet the vocational committee concerned? If the Minister does not have control over the trust, I should like to know who does?
I am aware of the situation and that the vocational committee have asked for additional land from the trust.
Is the Minister aware that more than one meeting has been sought regarding this problem? The trust maintain that they do not know what the educational body wants to meet them about. Is the Minister aware that the vocational interests made representations and applications to the trust for at least 20 different meetings?
Yes. I hope that in this matter commonsense will prevail. Since the trust and the management of the local vocational school are in the same parish, I hope the trust will be able to accommodate the school authorities in some way. However, as long as the trust scheme is being observed I do not have power to tell the trust what to do with the land.
Will the Minister give me a guarantee that, if another request is made by the vocational interests to the trust for a meeting and they refuse, he will sack the trust?
To sack the trust would be a very serious step. That step would not be taken unless the trust were in serious breach of their duties.
The Minister should take some action.
I am aware that the vocational committee have asked for a meeting.
One dozen meetings.
The headmaster has been in touch with me about this. I have written to the secretary of the trust and I hope that commonsense will prevail.