A Cheann Comhairle, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to raise the important matter of the closure of Dunmanus national school, Goleen, County Cork on 30 June 1993.
I ask the Minister why this school is being closed down on that date without consultation with the board of management or the parents' association? Is this course of action now accepted departmental policy? Both the board of management and the parents are highly incensed by the lack of dialogue on the matter. Two years ago an opportunity to amalgamate with another school presented itself. If that option had been chosen, the children of that school would have been offered free transport to Goleen national school.
In view of the Department's decision now to close the school and that the opportunity to amalgamate was not investigated at the time, will the Department ensure that justice is seen to be done and if it is necessary to close the school on 30 June to offer the children concerned free transport to Goleen national school? This course of action would be in line with the wishes of the parents. I believe the Department of Education are aware of their wishes but up to the present they have been kept in the dark on future transport plans.
Goleen, which is my home parish has a history of school closures during the past four decades. In the period 1940-50 this parish had eight national schools, both Catholic and Protestant. Today there are only two national schools left in the parish, one two teacher school in the village of Goleen and, I believe a one teacher school in Lissigriffin from 30 June next. Goleen parish is the most south-westerly parish in Ireland and the clergy, teachers and parents are fighting to hold on to their identity as a parish. It is most important that if a school closes within the catchment area of a parish its pupils should be transported by the Department to the nearest school operating in the parish, which in the case of Dunmanus is Goleen national school.
I wish to ascertain from the Minister if a decision has been made about the transport of the children concerned to Goleen national school in the event of the closure of Dunmanus national school?
Every parish likes to hold its identity, particularly when it comes to Confirmation day. When the Bishop comes to officiate at Confirmation he will find that the school population has become so depleted that the pupils have been absorbed into adjoining parishes. I believe this is the wrong approach. I hope the Minister has good news for me and that it is proposed to retain the few pupils we have left in my little home parish so that we can ensure that the parish of Goleen can hold its identity in the years to come.