I wish to share my time with Deputy Flanagan.
Adjournment Debate. - Second Level Education in Portlaoise.
Is that satisfactory? Agreed.
There are three post-primary education schools in Portlaoise, the Christian Brothers' school, the Presentation Convent and the vocational school with an attendance in excess of 1,100 pupils. In the post-primary catchment area of Portlaoise there are approximately 2,400 pupils. It is proposed to extend post-primary education to a six-year cycle.
I wish to highlight and bring to the attention of the Minister the failure of his two immediate predecessors, Deputy Davern and Deputy O'Rourke, to provide proper post-primary educational facilities in Portlaoise. By their inaction and indecision, they caused serious damage to post-primary educational facilities in the town. There is total confusion among parents, teachers and pupils over future developments in the town of Portlaoise.
The Minister is new to his brief and I wish very briefly to bring to his attention the history of what has happened in Portlaoise. Because of the inadequate facilities and the unsatisfactory nature of the vocational school building, a formal decision was taken in 1981 to build a new vocational school in Portlaoise on a ten-acre site that was specially purchased for this purpose. Planning work proceeded rapidly and working drawings were prepared by Laois Vocational Education Committee and lodged with the Department of Education in 1986. The school was ready to go to tender for building in 1987.
The Christian Brothers' school in Portlaoise was built in the last century and is in a run down and dilapidated condition. Because of the necessity for new buildings, sanction was sought and obtained for a new school in 1985. Planning and development work proceeded apace. Every section of the community in Portlaoise was happy at the progress and development and pleased that the high standards of education that has been the hallmark of the town of Portlaoise were going to be maintained, developed and, in fact, expanded.
Following the change of Government in 1987 and with the stroke of a pen, in 1988 the then Minister for Education, Deputy O'Rourke, wiped out the work of the vocational education committee and the Christian Brothers in Portlaoise and issued an ultimatum to the two schools to unite. Not satisfied with this, the Minister then proceeded to amalgamate the three post-primary schools in the town. The public outcry and opposition to these proposals was such that the Minister took no action and left matters in abeyance.
Five years have passed and the situation is deteriorating on a daily basis. I want to go on record as objecting to one huge conglomerate-type school in Portlaoise. With the numbers in primary education and with a six-year cycle envisaged, it is likely that the numbers in post-primary education in Portlaoise could reach 1,400 pupils in the next few years. A school of that size would be more like a factory than what should properly be a cradle of learning for our post-primary pupils. With a school of over 1,100 pupils all personal contact in the school is lost. There is no proper pupil-teacher relationship established and developed. With huge class sizes the bright and very bright pupils may or may not develop to their full potential, but the mediocre and weaker pupils have no real scope for their education or character development. In a school of 1,100 plus pupils not alone do the pupils not have the benefit of getting to become acquainted and friendly with their fellow pupils, but even the teachers have not the opportunity of getting to know one another. I have spoken before and I repeat here again tonight, that the majority of parents with children attending school in Portlaoise and the people in the town favour a two school development there.
On 10 February 1992 the former Minister for Education sanctioned and approved a £20 million plan for schools across Ireland. Of that £20 million, not one red penny was sanctioned or approved for County Laois. Approximately 18 counties were allocated moneys but Portlaoise and Laois were left out. It is important that the Minister and his colleagues should use their influence in favour of a two school development in Portlaoise. If they are not prepared to do so, I call upon the Government to move aside. The current situation cannot continue and the people in Portlaoise are not prepared to tolerate this injustice any longer
As a Deputy resident in Portlaoise, I am pleased to have the opportunity of contributing on this most important matter. I am appalled at the fact that the new Minister for Education is not present for the debate and I urge his Minister of State to take back a message to the Minister that a deputation is required on this matter at the earliest opportunity.
The history of this unfortunate saga is well documented. The matter has gone on for far too long. Parents, teachers and children are very fearful of their uncertain future. This Government are presiding over the running down of the educational system in Portlaoise. The Minister has in the past, in reply to questions, looked for local consensus. I call on the Minister tonight to make a decision, which is his duty, to alleviate the very serious level of anxiety, frustration and anger in Portlaoise. Action is demanded. We have had sufficient talk on this matter over many years.
I wish to thank the Deputies for raising this matter. It gives me an opportunity of outlining on behalf of the Minister the present position on post-primary education in Portlaoise.
There are three post-primary schools in the town with a total enrolment in the current school year of 1,103 pupils. Major building projects had been mooted for two of the schools — the CBS and the vocational school. In accordance with standard practice, discussions were initiated with the school managements on the issue of rationalisation.
Rationalisation and cost-effectiveness are now key features of the Department's policy on the provision of post-primary schools. The need for rationalisation arises as a logical associate of the following objectives:
the need, without increasing expenditure, to make educational improvements and meet new challenges through more effective and cost-efficient use of available resources;
the need to eliminate, in so far as possible, duplication and waste in the provision of capital and current facilities;
to enhance the range of subject availability for as many pupils as possible;
to promote movement towards greater equality of educational opportunity generally and in particular for girls;
to promote co-education.
The need for rationalisation has been accepted by the managements of all three post-primary schools in the town and discussions and consultations amongst all the interested parties, including parents and teachers, have been conducted at local level. Initial discussions at local level centred on the possibility of an amalgamation between the CBS and the vocational school, leaving the Presentation secondary school as a separate post-primary school. However, the Presentation Order expressed a wish to participate fully in any rationalisation initiatives, bearing in mind the long term post-primary needs of Portlaoise centre.
In March 1991, the then Minister for Education Deputy O'Rourke, had separate meetings with representatives of the managements with a view to encouraging local consensus and agreement on the future provision of post-primary facilities in Portlaoise. Unfortunately, however, such local consensus did not emerge and following full consideration of all aspects of the matter she decided last August to engage independent consultants to undertake a study of the required post-primary provision in Portlaoise. It is unfair of Deputy Enright to blame any of my predecessors. Every possible opportunity was taken by them to arrive at a consensus. The purpose of the study is to determine the appropriate size of the school, having regard to the medium to longer term need for places in the catchment area. The report of the consultants has now been received and a decision on the future provision for second level education in Portlaoise will be made in the light of the findings of the report.