I propose to call Deputies Finucane, Ryan and Deenihan to make two minutes' statements on education matters.
Adjournment Debate. - Education Matters.
I have elaborated in the past on the importance of Stella Maris school at Foynes and I do not intend to go over that ground again. My objective on this occasion is to highlight the concern of the parents who are considering sending children to that school in September. As the Minister is aware, the Convent of Mercy made a decision to terminate studies in that school in 1995. At this stage the parents need to know what will be the role for that school beyond 1995. I understand the Minister asked inspectors to visit the school to assess the building. The local action committee spent a large sum of money on investigations by top architects in Limerick. They made an appropriate submission to the Minister and reported that it made good financial sense to retain the building. Will the Minister give the parents the assurance they need in planning for the education of their children?
The Stella Maris school at Foynes is a voluntary secondary school under the management of the Sisters of Mercy. As the Deputy stated, the Mercy Order have taken a decision to withdraw from management at the end of the 1995 academic year. However, the Order have indicated that they will take in pupils into first year this coming September. This school shares a catchment area with three other post primary schools located in three separate centres — Askeaton, Shanagolden and Pallaskenry. The total enrolment for the four schools is 867, including 75 boarders. In the Department's view it is clear that in the long term four schools will not be required in the catchment area and accordingly, the possibilities for rationalisation of post primary facilities must be examined.
A proposal has been submitted to the Department by the Parents' Action Committee, Foynes, aimed at ensuring the continuance of the school beyond 1995. However, an examination of the existing accommodation in the Stella Maris school by the professional staff of the Department concluded that considerable expenditure would be required if the buildings in question were to continue to cater properly for post primary pupils. The full implications of this examination are now being considered within the Department.
The parents in the Castleknock area heard with disbelief the recent announcement by the Department that Castleknock will not receive a post primary school. The enrolment crisis was to be met by providing new schools at Hartstown and Dunboyne. The campaign for a non-fee paying school goes back to 1985 when a site was purchased in Beechpark Avenue. Since then commitments have been given on this matter and promises broken. Is it any wonder that parents are disillusioned?
In that parish alone 257 students leave primary school each year and the figure is expected to rise to over 300 by 1995. There has been a big increase in the number of new houses in the area. The Minister is hiding behind the recent Bannon report. If the report did not recommend a school surely it stated where these children are to be placed in future years. The parents have a right to know.
A letter from Coolmine community school stated that the board had not received any communication from the Department in relation to the Bannon report. Furthermore, the board do not wish the student population to further increase. The same is the position with Castleknock College who have not received a communication from the Department. The position is totally unacceptable. On behalf of the parents of Castleknock I call on the Minister to release the Bannon report the general public. I also ask him to meet the action committee for the area who had been in consultation with his predecessor. I ask him to agree in principle to this much needed post primary school and to give the people what is required in the area.
There are two post primary schools in Castleknock at present, Castleknock College for boys and St. Joseph's Convent, Mount Sackville for girls, both of which are fee-paying schools. Pupils from the Castleknock primary schools also attend in large numbers the following post primary schools in the area: St. Dominic's secondary school, Navan Road for girls, St. Declan's CBS, Navan Road for boys and Coolmine community school.
The Deputy will be aware that outside consultants were recently commissioned to assist the Department in a study to determine the need and provision for post-primary school places in the Castleknock-Hartstown-Dunboyne areas. As the work of the consultants was confidential to the Department it would not be appropriate to publish their report. The findings of the study indicate that there is an immediate need for a new post-primary school in Hartstown to be followed by a new school in Dunboyne. The findings also indicate that the needs of the Castleknock pupils can continue to be met by the post-primary schools which currently cater for the majority of them.
Pat Murphy of Sandville, Castleisland, County Kerry, is acknowledged as one of Ireland's top race walkers. He has produced a number of world class performances over the past two years. In April 1991 he won the World Cup trial in Clonmel in a time of one hour 24 minutes 19 seconds, the fastest time for a 20 kilometre road walk race in Ireland. In March this year he walked the fourth fastest time in the world for 5,000 metres. In Hungary on 4 April he knocked 15 minutes of the Irish record for 50 kilometres. Pat is 19 seconds off the qualifying time for the Olympic Games in Barcelona and he has until 10 July to make up this time. It is likely that he will have to travel to Europe for at least two races to reach the qualifying time, and he will have to do this largely at his own expense.
This man works as a plumber for a livelihood. However, as he now trains twice daily he is not able to work on a regular basis, resulting in considerble loss of income. In 1991 Pat was allocated a grant of £1,000 to assist him in his preparations for Barcelona. This enabled him to train in a warmer climate which improved considerable his level of performance. It was expected that Pat would receive a further grant of £2,000 this year to help him continue with his preparations for Barcelona. However, much to the dismay of the NACAI he was not included among those athletes who received special grant aid as recently announced by the Minister. This is most disappointing and very unfair. Pat has great potential to be a world class race walker. He missed the qualifying time for the world championships in Tokyo by a few seconds. Due to his dedication and commitment he deserves every support to help him reach the Olympic qualifying time. I appeal to the Minister to reconsider giving grant aid to this man as this is a very deserving case.
The Department operate a scheme of grant-aid to outstanding sportspersons whereby funds are made available to assist selected sports persons in developing to their full potential by enabling them (a) to undertake training and competition at the highest level and (b) to compete with distinction in international events. Each national governing body of sport is invited each year to submit applications of their more talented members.
An application was submitted by the National Athletic and Cycling Association (NACA) on behalf of Mr. Patrick Murphy, a walker. The committee of experts consisting of Noel Murphy, Chairman; Chris Wall, BLE; Pat Duffy, National Coaching and Training Centre; Pat Hickey, OCI; George Gibney, Irish Amateur Swimming Association; Dr. Geraldine Barnville and Jimmy Magee, journalist, appointed to advise the Minister, examined Mr. Murphy's application. The committee did not recommend him for funding as it was felt that his level of performance was not of sufficient standard to warrant such funding. He narrowly missed qualification for last year's world championship in Tokyo and so far has not achieved a qualifying standard for the Olympics in Barcelona. The committee were not convinced that he would achieve the standard and that even if he did he would more than likely benefit from the special Government provision of £250,000, announced in the budget, to the Olympic Council of Ireland.
The Dáil adjourned at 9.10 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 29 April 1992.