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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 14 Feb 1990

Vol. 395 No. 7

Adjournment Debate. - County Tipperary New Community School.

I wish to thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, most sincerely for allowing me to raise this matter this evening. The history of the proposed community school in Cashel is a long, unsatisfactory and troubled one, riddled with broken promises, delays, postponements, disappointments and, above all, inaction. To be fair to the Minister not all of these have occurred during her period of office, nevertheless most of them have.

In 1979, a large extension to the girls' secondary school in Cashel was approved by the Department of Education. By the end of 1983 plans for the new buildings were almost completed. A site was provided free of charge by the Presentation Sisters and the required local contribution was raised by the parents. However, on 31 January 1984 a Department circular called for a review of post primary education facilities in Cashel. As a result of this review the Presentation Sisters and the CBS agreed to participate in the proposed community school on the understanding "that the community school would proceed without delay".

Commitment after commitment was given and in December 1984 the Department assured us "that there is no question of any delay in the availability of funds for the school building". In January 1985 the Department said "planning of the school will proceed immediately". In November 1985, the building unit wrote to the managers of the schools in Cashel and stated that the scheme would go to tender in July 1986 and building would commence in either September or October 1986. Cashel waited and waited patiently. At this point I must compliment the community for their patience and the restraint they have shown.

The first warning was given in November 1987 when a letter from the Department stated that a decision to commence the proposed community school in Cashel would depend on the availability of resources and on the Department's other commitments and priorities.

In May 1988, the school authorities were informed that the plans for the community school were being shelved in favour of a new departure in school building, that is, designed, built and financed by a private developer. This school was to be included in that new pilot scheme and we were assured in early September 1989 that all the difficulties, legal and otherwise, had been cleared and that the builders would be on site before Christmas 1989. In November 1989, an assurance was given that the builders would be on site by February 1990.

We have now learned to our horror that the scheme has not even gone to tender, despite the assurances given by the Department of Education that the school would be open by September 1991. That proposed opening date could still be achieved if the Minister for Education gives sanction for the building to commence immediately. For far too long all the schools in Cashel have coped with totally unacceptable conditions, poor, unhealthy sanitation, fire hazards, grossly inadequate classrooms, constant flooding in pedestrian areas and no ventilation — so poor in fact that the inspectors supervising State examinations have made repeated complaints about the position. There is some doubt at this stage as to whether the public examinations can be held in the building this year.

This is but a brief summary of the prevailing unacceptable conditions in the schools in Cashel. I cannot over-estimate the anger and frustration felt by the parents, teachers, students and school managers in Cashel. Continuous delays and postponements have resulted in a mounting tide of impatience and intolerance. For far too long Cashel has waited. It now wants action. As a past pupil of the Presentation Convent — my colleagues teach in the VEC and my family are past pupils of the CBS — I am deeply committed to the future of education in Cashel. I plead for immediate action to ensure that Cashel community school will open in September 1991 and for all the promises to be honoured.

I know, a Cheann Comhairle, you will be indulgent to your fellow Deputies and sister Deputy from your local area and will allow me to give two minutes of my time to Deputy Davern.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

This problem goes back to 1970 when the then Minister for Education asked that both schools be amalgamated. I recall distinctly the bitter opposition this proposed amalgamation received and the emotions which were played on at the time. Those who thought of amalgamation at that time were way ahead of their time and certainly were not appreciated. We witnessed the expansion of both schools without proper facilities. I am aware, a Cheann Comhairle, that you joined with me on that occasion in supporting that request.

The Minister is being realistic and has done the best she can within the limited resources available to her. She has not put this matter on the long finger. Deputy Ahearn forgot to mention that there was a failure to agree with the VEC on the establishment of a community college. That was the source of one of the delays. The Minister on coming into office saw there was no money available but brought some innovative thinking into the matter. I can assure the House that I have every confidence in the Minister to bring about a quick and satisfactory conclusion to this matter which would meet the agreement of all the people of Cashel. I am a native of that area.

When did the Minister promise the Deputy the letter?

Is this position not just delicious, a Cheann Comhairle, with you in the Chair and the Deputies who represent the area sitting all around us? I am aware if you were allowed to speak, you would.

Indeed, Minister. That is a well known fact.

I know you are precluded from so doing. I thank Deputy Ahearn for raising this matter on the Adjournment, for a very fine presentation of the facts and for the very fair way in which she delineated the various delays over the years, not leaving out 1979, 1983, 1984 and 1985. Three of those years were in the term of a previous lady Minister for Education. When I came in I knew quite well I had not the money and was not behind the bush in saying at that time that I had not got it. Happily, circumstances altered and we were able to go ahead with a new process.

I am well aware from my reading of the files of the constant — I hesitate to use the word — harassment because in a man-woman situation it has another connotation, but I have been constantly harassed on this matter by Deputy Noel Davern — in the nicest possible way — since he came into the Dáil and by Senator Seán McCarthy in the previous Dáil. They — and Deputy Ahearn tonight — left me under no illusion about this school being wanted for this town. Deputy Davern told me on some occasion the history of what led to the very admirable decision that it be a community school. Let me pay tribute to all parties to that. I know Sister Claude very well. She is a very able woman of the highest integrity, as I am sure the other principals concerned are too. Because it was a new concept and legalities had to be cleared as to how such matters would proceed, there were of necessity legal difficulties quite beyond my control which rested with the Chief State Solicitor's Office. Those are at present receiving attention.

I am working with very great attention on this case. It is not a matter of finance. How could it be when we do not pay up front? The whole concept of moving on schools such as this is that the person designing the building moves ahead with a block of money and we pay it back over a period of years. Therefore, there is no such thing as the Government or myself and the Department being niggardly with the funds for such an admirable project which will benefit the town of Cashel greatly, a school which will be available not just to the students of 12 to 18 years but as a community facility, as the term community implies, open to the public for all sorts of other activities, further training, adult education, second chance, women returning to education and all that will be written into the conditions.

Deputy Ahearn was with me on a deputation about another matter and in regard to rationalisation she heard me say that we put our money where people put their faith in a concept. Faith has been shown by the people of Cashel in this concept. It is not a matter of ready finance. We do not need ready finance for it. Therefore, there is no reason that I should in any way not press the button but for the legalities. If they were not correctly sorted out I would find myself in a very assailable position. I have to have all my i-s dotted and t-s crossed. I wish to accommodate the town of Cashel, the brothers, the nuns and the VEC, who despite earlier difficulties have worked together on this. As soon as I have the legalities cleared I will proceed to do what is required.

I commend all the Deputies for the area who have been assiduous about this. Since we came back into the Dáil last October Deputy Davern has never ceased to pursue this, and Deputy Ahearn has brought it forward here tonight. A Cheann Comhairle, if you could speak on this matter you would do so.

The matter is urgent. The school is needed. The present accommodation is completely unsatisfactory. I want to allay the fears about the public examinations. If it is not wished to have them in those schools, public examinations will be held in Cashel. That is not an issue. We will provide a centre in Cashel for public examinations. I would not——

Scaremongering.

——and neither would I expect anybody in the teaching profession to alarm young people to that effect. Of course, it would have an effect on young people who would have to travel miles.

I am glad the Minister has allayed that fear. I would hate to think the children of Cashel would be alarmed.

(Interruptions.)

There is no doubt a centre will be provided for public examinations in Cashel. I wish to see the saga of the Cashel community school brought to a very happy and fruitful conclusion and I am working very hard on that. Let us say "progress reported".

When will the legalities be completed?

The Dáil adjourned at 9.15 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 15 February 1990.

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