Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 22 Oct 1992

Vol. 424 No. 2

Education and Gaeltacht Matters.

Mr. Hogan

I wish to thank the Chair for the opportunity to raise this important matter with the Minister of State. The Minister will be aware that there are approximately 30 children aged between four and 14 years who are using the facilities provided by Iarnród Éireann from Waterford to Dublin each weekend to commute to schools for the deaf in Dublin City — St. Mary's in Cabra and a school in Stillorgan. For the past number of years there has been a satisfactory arrangement in so far as third level students returning for the weekend have co-operated with the parents of those deaf children and have supervised them on the train.

Recently some concern has been expressed by the National Association for the Deaf, and by the third level students who have been engaged in a supervisory role of those children, that the assumed responsibility could result in a certain liability in the event of an accident. This has given rise to consideration of serious insurance matters. I would like to establish whether the Department of Education have responsibility for the children while on board public transport and whether they will take steps to ensure that deaf children who, through no fault of their own, have to leave their own community to attend various schools in Dublin will be supervised?

It is totally unacceptable that children between the ages of four and 14 years, who are suffering from a disability, should be unsupervised while travelling to and from Dublin. I would ask the Minister to ensure that this matter is redressed because in the event of an accident the position of voluntary escorts would assume greater importance. If the accident occurs the Department of Education will have no option but to assume responsibility and to fund the escorting of those children to and from their place of education. I look forward to the reply.

Mr. Aylward

I am aware of this case and I fully appreciate the difficulties encountered by some children with disabilities in travelling to special schools and classes and would be anxious to alleviate those difficulties as resources permit.

The present position is that the Department provide transport for pupils to special schools and classes, or alternatively, a grant is made towards the cost of private transport arrangements, if official transport cannot be provided. Escorts are allowed to travel on special transport services where there is no additional cost involved and where there is spare capacity on a vehicle. These escorts are usually child-care workers attached to special schools and carry out the duty as part of their job.

In order to facilitate pupils attending residential special schools, the Department make available transport vouchers which enable pupils to travel home at weekends on mainline rail and bus services. The successful operation of this service depends on degree of co-operation between parents, pupils and the school authorities.

Members of the school staff bring pupils to the various stations and also collect them there each weekend. I understand that older pupils act as escorts to younger pupils on the trains and buses and parents make the necessary arrangements to transport pupils to and from local points of departure. However, I do not accept that this is a proper arrangement.

The Department have no scheme to provide financial assistance towards the cost of weekend travel passes for escorts. However, I will be considering whether additional measures are appropriate in the light of the report of the special education review committee, which is considering the range of support services required for children with disabilities. I can assure the Deputy I am aware of this case and will do all I can to have the matter resolved.

Mr. G. Reynolds

I wish to thank the Chair for allowing me to articulate on the school books scheme. There is considerable confusion regarding the school book scheme. I understand a new directive has been issued by the Minister for Education that only persons who receive clothing and footwear allowances will be eligible for the scheme. There will be great difficulties with this scheme. The idea behind this scheme is to make a financial saving in the Education Estimate this year. The Department, and the Minister, ought to be involved in progressive rather than savings ideas. We all want to see disadvantaged children given the best opportunities. The only way they can better themselves is through a proper education. If it involves hitting the disadvantaged people who do not have a voice, it is not a very worth-while scheme.

I would ask the Minister to re-examine the whole scheme in view of the fact that the old book scheme which was in existence for a number of years worked extremely well. Most schools which operated the scheme were allowed to lend books at a nominal rate to the majority of pupils. If the new scheme is brought into operation the number of children who will be allowed participate will be reduced considerably. It will mean a financial cutback in education expenditure which is not a progressive step. I request the Minister to revert to the old scheme. The only complaint made by school principal about the old scheme was that not enough finance was made available. I ask the Minister to consider the position.

Mr. Aylward

I am very pleased to have this opportunity to explain the Department's school book scheme to the Deputy. The present grant scheme for school books for needy pupils has been in operation since 1967 up to the present 1992-93 school year.

The present scheme of aid in operation in primary schools towards the cost of school textbooks is administered through the principal teachers of the schools who, subject to the amount of money made available to them annually, have discretion in the selection of pupils to be assisted and in the extent of assistance to be given to each pupil.

The Department decided to revise the arrangements for the allocation of grants to schools under the scheme to have effect from the 1993-94 school year. The purpose of the changes are to ensure that funds are distributed equitably between schools and within schools and that available funds are directed towards those pupils who are most in need of assistance.

The Department of Social Welfare operates a back to school clothing and footwear scheme with established criteria and systems for identifying children most in need of assistance. Children who qualify for assistance under the back to school clothing and footwear scheme will be eligible for support under the revised school book grant scheme.

In order to obtain assistance under the new school book scheme, parents-guardians should present this certificate to the principal of the school attended by their children. The type and level of the assistance would be determined by the principal in line with the nature of the scheme operated in each school and the relative cost of school books for the different standards.

I accept that there will be situations where the principal will be aware of cases of real need where children have not qualified for support under the back to school clothing and footwear. The principal will have discretion to respond to these cases within the overall grant allocated to the school.

The amount of the grant will be determined by the number of pupils eligible for assistance under the back to school clothing and footwear scheme. An advance of approximately 75 per cent of the grant will be paid to the school in the spring of 1993. When the form confirming the number of eligible pupils is returned by the school to the Department in September, the balance of the grant will be paid. Application forms and further details will be sent to schools early in the new year.

The Department of Education have advised management authorities to implement, in co-operation with parents, a school policy which would ensure the efficient use of school books and minimise the cost for parents. Circular M54/91, which was issued to schools in September 1991, advocated the operation of an appropriate loan-rental scheme in schools in which it was envisaged that pupils would be required to pay either the full economic rent, an appropriately subsidised rent or no rent in return for the use of school textbooks. Many schools already have such schemes in operation while other schools provide assistance to the parents of needy pupils by providing secondhand books or by reducing the cost of the books by a fixed amount or by the amount of the grant. I am confident that the scheme for the 1993-94 school year, when in operation, will be very effective and efficient.

Mr. M. Kitt

I welcome the opportunity to raise the issue of an extension for Glenamaddy national school, County Galway with the Minister of State at the Department of Education. It is proposed to build two additional classrooms and rearrange two of the existing classrooms. Planning permission has been granted by Galway County Council for this work and a copy of the planning permission has been submitted to the Department of Education.

The school in question is a five teacher school with 148 pupils. Unfortunately, one of the classrooms is a prefabricated building which is in a very bad condition. The board of management have informed me that there is not adequate space for the children in the classrooms. The old style seating is still being used in the school; they cannot use the new style seating necessary for implementing the new curriculum. This is a very sad state of affairs.

The Western Health Board have issued a report on the school which states that the situation there is serious. I hope the Minister of State will be able to get the Department to give approval for this extension so that tenders can be invited and the contract placed.

Mr. Alyward

I thank Deputy Kitt for raising this matter as it gives me an opportunity to outline the present position in regard to the proposed extension of Glenamaddy national school, County Galway.

The present accommodation at this school comprises four small classrooms and a prefabricated classroom which is being rented at present and which is grant-aided by the Department. The staffing consists of a principal and four assistant teachers. The average enrolment in September was 136. Because of increasing enrolment it will be necessary to provide additional accommodation. It is proposed to convert the existing small classrooms into two standard classrooms and to build two further standard-size classrooms. The chairman of the board of management has been advised to discontinue the rental of the prefabricated classroom and to purchase it in lieu of an extra classroom. This will also be grant-aided.

Tender documents for the project are complete. However, under the new building regulations it will be necessary for the chairman to obtain a fire safety certificate from the planning authority. The chairman has been advised in this regard by the Department. Once the certificate has been received the question of the invitation of tenders will be considered in the light of the difficult budgetary position and the large number of projects in hands.

The Deputy will appreciate that each national school authority seeking capital grants from the Department invariably make the case that their project deserves priority treatment. My task and that of the Department is to allocate the available resources in any one year as fairly as possible to as many schools as possible, having regard to the overall constraints. The Deputy will also know that the allocation of the 1993 capital allocation is now under consideration in consultation with the Department of Finance. Representations have been made to the Minister for Education and myself regarding this school and the urgency of the situation has been consistently impressed on us. It will not be possible to say when the tenders will be invited for this project until we know precisely what money will be available in 1993. However, I wish to assure the Deputy that it is my intention that work on this project should commence at the earliest possible date, having due regard to the financial situation.

Mr. Deasy

I am sure the House and the Minister of State at the Department of Education with responsibility for sport will join with me in congratulating the Munster rugby team on their magnificent and historic win in Musgrove Park, Cork yesterday. This win went a long way towards restoring our national pride in the game of rugby, which has been somewhat lacking in recent years.

I wish to refer to the necessity for a new vocational school in Dungarvan, County Waterford. I will preface my remarks by referring to the Minister's reply to a parliamentary question put down by me on 25 June 1992 in which I asked about his intentions regarding the provisions of a new vocational school for Dungarvan. He replied:

The architectural planning of a new vocational school for Dungarvan was suspended in 1987 in the light of the declining demographic trend and its implications for future post primary enrolments in Dungarvan. An application for the provision of temporary accommodation to meet short term needs at this school is currently being processed within my Department.

I wish to point out to the Minister that that school has gone forward in leaps and bounds since 1987 and, in particular, during the last year. It is now one of the most outstanding schools in County Waterford. The enrolment in the school is increasing significantly every year. For example, there are 345 pupils in the school, an increase of 72, or 25 per cent over last year's level. That has been the trend in recent years. It is not that long ago since there were barely 100 students in the school. The school is totally out of date and inadequate to cater for the numbers attending it. It should be borne in mind that many of these students would be regarded as disadvantaged in some ways — they would not attend schools which are regarded as high on the academic honours list.

There is a young and brilliant staff in the school. Through their work they have attracted an unprecedented number of students to the school. The Government and the Department of Education should respond to their efforts by providing a new school for them. This school, which dates back to the thirties, is totally inadequate. In addition to the main school building, there are a number of prefabricated classrooms. This situation should not pertain in 1992; it can only get worse. There is a site available. The whole scene has changed in the past five years. In view of the changing circumstances, I would ask the Minister to back up the staff and the children attending the school by making provision for funds for a new school.

Mr. Aylward

I agree fully with Deputy Deasy in extending good wishes to the rugby team. They certainly did us proud. Congratulations also to the under-21 hurlers who did Waterford proud.

Mr. Deasy

And Donegal and Kilkenny.

Mr. Aylward

The vocational school is one of four post-primary schools in Dungarvan. Enrolment in 1992 was 290. In 1981 the Department sanctioned the provision of a new building for the vocational school to cater for 225 pupils. At that stage there were five post-primary schools in Dungarvan. In 1987 the architectural planning of a new vocational building was suspended in the light of the declining demographic trend and its implications for future post-primary enrolments in Dungarvan.

Also, in the light of a renewed emphasis on rationalisation of post-primary facilities talks were initiated with all the post-primary managements to see what rationalisation measures could be achieved. As a result, the amalgamation took place in 1990 of the Mercy and Presentation secondary schools and one of the boys' schools, St. Augustine's, became co-educational.

Over the past three years the Department have approved the provision of prefabricated classrooms at the vocational school as follows: 1990, four prefabricated classrooms; 1991, three prefabricated classrooms, and 1992, two prefabricated classrooms. It is considered, therefore, that the accommodation needs of the school are adequately catered for at present. In view of the Deputy's interest I will have the matter looked into.

Mr. Deasy

The number of pre-fabs is an indictment of the Department. I thank the Minister for his reply.

Mr. McGinley

Tá mé ag iarraidh go gcuirfí saoráidí calaíochta ceart ar fáil do Oileán Thoraí atá suite taobh thiarthuaidh de chósta Dhún na nGall. Mar is eol don Aire Stáit, tá sé beagnach ceithre bliana ó cuireadh plean forbartha an oileáin os comhair an phobail agus rinneadh é a lánsáil nuair a bhíomar uilig ar an oileán.

Ba é ceann de na príomhphointí a bhí sa phlean ná calafort ceart a chur ar fáil. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil cúpla rud déanta le ceithre bliana anuas, go bhfuil suirbhéanna mara agus talún déanta agus go ndeachaigh cigirí isteach, ach níl dul chun cinn sásúil le feiceáil.

Tá níos nó gá ná riamh go dtógfaí calafort, mar tá forbairt ag dul ar aghaidh ar an oileán: tá teach ósta á thógáil ansin; bíonn níos mó cuairteoirí ag dul isteach ó bhliain go bliain, agus lena chois sin tá bád farantóireachta úr ann.

Táimid ag dul isteach sa gheimhreadh agus tá taithí agam féin agus ag an Aire Stáit ar ghlaonna ó Oileán Thoraigh i gcónaí in oícheanta geimhridh ag iarraidh ar héalacaptar le tarrtháil a thabhairt ar an bpobal ansin, le bia a thabhairt isteach agus mar sin de. Cé go mbíonn fonn orainn uilig cabhrú le muintir an oileáin, cuireann sé i gcuimhne dúinn nach bhfuil cé ná calafort ceart acu do bhád farantóireachta.

Dá bhrí sin, iarraim ar an Aire Stáit, agus ar an Aire féin, gach dícheall a dhéanamh agus a chur in iúl dúinn cén uair atá siad ag súil go gcuirfear tús leis an obair. Tá calafort níos tábhachtaí ná bóthar ná aerfort agus go dtí go gcuirtear é sin ar fáil do Oileán Thoraí, beidh deacrachtaí mara ag an oileán.

Aire Stáit ag Roinn na Gaeltachta agus ag Roinn na Mara (Mr. P. Gallagher)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta McGinley as ucht an cheist tábhachtach seo a ardú ar an Athló.

Tá sé aitheanta agam féin agus ag Roinn na Gaeltachta le fada nach bhfuil na saoráidí calaíochta ar Oileán Thoraí sásúil agus go háirithe nach gcuireann siad go leor foscaidh ar fáil le linn stoirmeacha. Ar ndóigh, cuireann easpa áiseanna mar seo bac mór ar fhorbairt na hiascaireachta chomh maith le cúrsaí farantóireachta.

Ar 4 Samhain 1991 cheadaigh mé deontas lánchostais méadaithe £76,000 trí Roinn na Gaeltachta chun a chumasú do Roinn na Mara suirbhéanna éagsúla chomh maith le staidéar mionsamhail a dhéanamh le go bhféadfaí an t-eolas cuí a bhailiú chun a fháil amach cad iad na saoráidí calaíochta is oiriúnaí do riachtanais mhuintir Thoraí agus an costas a bhainfeadh leo. Tá formhór na hoibre shuirbhéireachta sin críochnaithe agus tuigim ó Roinn na Mara go mbeidh tuarascáil innealtóireachta ar fáil dom roimh dheireadh na bliana. Ina dhiaidh sin, díreofar ar cheist airgeadú do na hoibreacha a bheidh de dhíth.

Meastar go mbeidh costas mór ag baint leis na hoibreacha a bheidh le déanamh agus nach mbeadh airgead mar sin ar fáil do Roinn na Gaeltachta sa ghnáthmheastachán. Beidh i gceist agam, mar sin, soláthar speisialta airgid a lorg ón Rialtas nuair a bheidh an tuarascáil a luaigh mé ar fáil mar tuigim go maith na deacrachtaí atá ag muintir Thoraí agus beidh mé ag iarraidh cuidiú leo in aon tslí is féidir.

Mar fhocal scoir, is féidir a bheith cinnte de go scrúdófar gach bealach agus go nglacfar le gach deis chun áiseanna calaíochta oiriúnacha a sholáthar do phobal Thoraí agus beidh mé ag coinneáil brú ar an dá Roinn faoi mo chúram chun an cuspóir sin a bhaint amach.

The Dáil adjourned at 5.40 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Friday, 23 October 1992.