asked the Minister for Education if he will restore the senior cycle to Caritas College given that the staff and facilities are already in situ and there would be no extra cost involved for his Department, that students at present have to leave after intermediate certificate and travel to schools all over the city and that it will not affect schools in the surrounding area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin College.
16.
I have no plans to restore the senior cycle to Caritas College. With the introduction of vocational preparation courses in the school the facilities available there are fully utilised. Having completed their junior cycle, the vast majority of students either take a vocational preparation course at Caritas College, or transfer to the senior college in Ballyfermot. Only a very small number go elsewhere to pursue their senior cycle courses.
Is the Minister aware that Ballyfermot has a population of between 50,000 and 60,000 people and that there are four to five teachers over the quota at Caritas College? Is the Minister aware that there is no convent in Ballyfermot that has a senior cycle and that after intermediate certificate those who wish to continue with a convent education must go elsewhere in the city? If my suggestion will not cost the Department any money and will not affect other schools in the area, will the Minister reconsider allowing the college have the senior cycle?
I do not have any plans to restore senior cycle there now. I am not aware that there is any problem with regard to lack of places. In fact, I understand that the transfer rate from junior to senior cycle in the area as a whole is in the region of 70 per cent. I am advised that the educational requirements of the area are best catered for by the existing arrangements. Of course, they are kept under review all the time and as new considerations emerged changes will be made. The matter will be kept under review, but there are no immediate plans to restore the senior cycle.
In view of the amount of time that has elapsed since the senior cycle was broken up, will the Minister reconsider my request on the basis of new information and the opinion of parents of children who are attending the school and want the senior cycle restored?
It is probably premature, because it is only about 18 months since there was a discussion between the authorities of the college and officials of my Department. At that time they were ad idem that senior cycle classes should not be restored. If the position has changed we will examine it.
It is seven years since the cycles were broken up. Due to the amount of time that has elapsed, the new information that is available and the fact that the Minister is new to his Department, I should like to know if he will be prepared to reconsider the position? I will pass the information on to the Minister.
I am always glad to get new information.