asked the Minister for Education the present position regarding the proposed extension or renovation of Tory Island national school, County Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tory Island School.
4.
My Department have already sanctioned a grant for the provision of pupil and teacher toilets at the Tory Island national school, County Donegal. The position with regard to other items in respect of which grant application was made is that a number of these fall into the category of repairs, and it is expected that the school should be able to meet the cost of capitation grant payable in respect of the pupils' attendance. In as much as other items conform to the definition of improvements which are eligible for capital grants, my Department are prepared in principle to grant-aid these and at present are awaiting a report from their local architectural adviser as to what work should be given priority. As soon as the report has been received and considered, my Department will communicate with the school authorities.
Does the Minister appreciate that this school cannot be classed like others in the country? The school management cannot meet the cost out of capital grants, and would the Minister ensure that a 100 per cent grant would be made available because there is no money on the island to pay the Department or the contractor?
We have a system whereby schools like that on Tory will get very favourable consideration when it comes to local contributions. In schools of the category referred to by the Deputy, the local contribution is negotiable with the Department and due allowance is made for all relevant circumstances. However, there would be no question of providing a 100 per cent grant for schools of that kind, but there would be a favourable response to any recommendations made by the school management.
Does the Minister accept that this application has been with the Department for a considerable time? Would he try to expedite the architect's report and as soon as it is available will he see to it that the grant will be sanctioned?
As soon as the architect's report is available negotiations will start with the school management in regard to the local contribution. On the basis of agreement on that, the amount of the grant will be determined. I do not foresee any undue delay in this case.
Would the Minister agree that the sort of answer he has given confirms our worst fears in regard to the way in which the offshore islands are treated? Would he agree there is a need, indeed a necessity, for some sort of central approach to the problem of the offshore islands? Does he recall that I addressed questions to the Taoiseach on this matter asking him to devise some sort of central approach to deal with problems common to all offshore islands and that the stock reply is that each Department deal with their own functions in so far as islands are concerned? Is not the sort of answer given by the Minister today an indication of the unsatisfactory nature of these arrangements and is the Minister aware that it is obvious from his reply that he is applying the same sort of standards, functions and critiques to this situation as he would apply to a school on the mainland? Would he agree that that is not appropriate? Would he accept from me, regretfully, a suggestion that the old congested district boards of the days when the British were here resulted in far more being done for people on these islands and for people in the west generally than we are doing for them today?
The Deputy's question deals with a far wider issue than the issue I can deal with here.
But it is typical.
What I said to Deputy Gallagher was that in the Department we have a system whereby we take into account schools such as offshore island schools. I am dealing here with a specific school and I have given an assurance that within the Department there is an attitude and a policy which takes into account very generously the position in respect of schools of the kind mentioned by the Deputy. Deputy Haughey is asking me to deal with an issue which is far wider than the issue referred to in the question.
That is not so. If the Minister studies the answer he has given he will find that he is dealing with the matter I am asking about.
As a result of that the Deputy is raising a much wider issue of national policy.
Would the Chair like me to leave the House?
The Deputy should keep his hair on.
You have been very restrictive already with my colleagues but I refrained from taking issue with you.
I get the impression that the Deputy has come in here today with a certain idea in mind.
Is there something wrong with that?
No, so long as your Chief Whip does not come in, at the end of Question Time perhaps, and attack me for not making progress and when I might say that I had done my best he would tell me that I must do more. It must be one way or the other.
I wish merely to exercise my normal parliamentary rights without unnecessary and undue restrictive interference from your good self. What I am asking about is a simple straightforward matter. It is the question of an extension to a school on Tory Island and I am asking the Minister to consider whether the answer he has given does not amount to applying to this situation the normal criteria and standards he would apply to a similar improvement to a school in any part of the country. I am suggesting that the Minister did not take into account the fact that the whole matter of offshore islands and also of some remote parts of the west is totally different from the rest of the country and that consequently different standards should be applied. However, if that question will result in upsetting parliamentary democracy, or the order in the House, or your own susceptibilities, I apologise.
There is no question of my susceptibilities in these matters. Shortly after entering politics, I took the advice of an elder politician who advised me to shed my skin and grow a shell.
There is no need to become heated because of a school on Tory Island.
My anxiety only is to keep in line with Standing Orders and to comply with the wishes of the Deputy's party as expressed to me in public by his Chief Whip.
The Deputy referred to a question he addressed to the Taoiseach in relation to conditions on the offshore islands and I replied that that was a far wider issue than the issue for which I have responsibility. I am dealing with a specific case on Tory Island and I wish to assure the Deputy and the House that special consideration is given always to schools on the offshore islands, to circumstances in the area and so on. In such cases there is a very generous response from the Department.
Will the Minister ensure that one of his officials, if not this afternoon, within the next few days, will ask the local architect in Donegal to submit his recommendations immediately because I consider a number of months to be far too long when dealing with Tory Island?
I will request that the architect's report be made available as quickly as possible.