den Aire Oideachais an dtabharfaidh sí uimhir agus ainmneacha na scoileanna náisiúnta i gContae Mhuigh Eo nach bhfuil sásúil do riachtanais an lae inniu; agus an inseoidh sí céard atá leagtha amach aici leis an scéal a fheabhsú.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Scoileanna Náisiúnta Mhuigh Eo.
5. D'fhiafraigh
Is mian liom aire an Teachta a dhíriú ar na freagraí a thug mé ar Cheisteanna a 18 agus 21 inné. Níl aon suirbhé déanta a thabharfadh eolas iomlán mar atá i gceist ag an Teachta.
Cuirfidh mé eolas chuig an Teachta go luath faoi mhór-scéimeanna tógála atá faoi phlé i láthair na huaire i gContae Mhuigh Eo, maraon le heolas faoi chásanna a bhfuil cabhair airgid le haghaidh feabhsúchán faoi bhreithniú.
Cuirfidh mé an cheist i mBéarla mar sílim go mbeidh deacracht ag an Aire le Gaeilge Chonnachtach. Would the Minister of State accept that the present position in relation to providing new schools in rural areas is not satisfactory as many boards of management are slow in having the proper facilities provided for children? Would he accept that it is time for the Department to take some initiative in having proper facilities provided in areas where schools are badly in need of replacement?
The procedure in the Department is that where adequate or extra accommodation is needed the school management board in the normal way make an application to the Department. The procedure is adopted, particularly in primary schools, that the Board of Works are asked to assess the accommodation available and it goes through the normal channels. I believe the Deputy is asking that the Department should take the initiative in carrying out a survey. As I have answered previous questions in relation to the same subject, it is my experience that school management boards are not slow in pointing out to the Department any inadequate facilities. I do not see any reason to change the existing system which has operated pretty successfully in the past.
Would the Minister of State accept that there are many areas where reports have been sent in by county medical officers in relation to the condition of schools and that this position continues because there are some boards of management who do not take any action? Is it not a fact that it is most unfair having children attending schools which are in very bad condition? In those areas the Department should at least take some initiative in trying to provide proper facilities for the children.
I accept that we have poor accommodation in some cases at primary level. We have over 800 applications on hand at the moment for extensions to primary schools, new schools replacements or alterations of some kind. I do not see the advantage at this stage in the Department carrying out a survey of all the primary schools available and recommending changes. We are fairly well aware of the condition of most of the schools because we are kept informed by the boards of management. It is possible, as the Deputy says, that there could be a board of management who are not very active but if they are not the teachers or the parents will take action. I assure the Deputy that the local public representatives are well informed as I am well aware.