Deputy Theresa Ahearn gave me notice of her intention to raise the matter of the closure of St. Joseph's college secondary school, Cahir, County Tipperary, leaving 120 students without secondary education from July 1994, and the proposals for the continuation of secondary education for the students involved and for the future employment of the present staff. The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Deputy Brian O'Shea, will reply.
Adjournment Debate. - Cahir (Tipperary) School Closure.
I was about to ask your guidance in regard to whom I would address this matter in view of the fact that no representative from the Department of Education is present, which I regret. Nevertheless, I assure the Minister of State, Deputy O'Shea, that if he has the answer I wish for this evening, the people of Cahir will be only too willing to receive it from somebody in the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.
The announcement that St. Joseph's college, Cahir, is to close in July has caused consternation in the town and the surrounding communities. There is sadness and regret that a school which served the students of the Cahir area so well has to close. It means that 120 second level students will be out on the street unless alternative accommodation is found urgently. There is a degree of uncertainty and alarm among students, parents and teachers as to what their future holds. They need to be reassured immediately that second level education for boys will be provided in Cahir town next September so as to prevent a haemorrhage of students leaving Cahir for other centres. Unless this reassurance is given immediately, and I mean tonight, parents are likely to begin making alternative arrangements.
I congratulate the staff of St. Joseph's college in Cahir who are making desperate efforts to search for a new building to ensure they and their students can continue their educational relationship until the new community college comes on stream.
I ask the Minister to state her role and responsibility in ensuring secondary education for the students in St. Joseph's. I would welcome a commitment from her to provide the necessary finance and resources to ensure an alternative building can be provided.
The college has a history of excellent results paving bright and successful futures for its students. I ask the Minister to allow this great partnership to continue until the new community college is opened. Accommodation will be found if the Department is prepared to fund any necessary rent or alterations.
I hope the Minister's response will end the worry, uncertainty and insecurity of parents, students and teachers and that she will state that the students will be able to continue their education in an alternative building in September. It is vital that this assurance is given to the parents otherwise there will be a haemorrhage of students from Cahir. Once they take up accommodation in other centres it will be difficult to get them back to the Cahir area. I hope to be able to assure everyone in Cahir that the Department will fund any rent or necessary alterations to suitable accommodation which may be proposed to the Department.
I have a particular interest in St. Joseph's as one of my sons went to school there. When I was notified by the principal and teachers of the need to close the school for safety reasons I immediately notified the Minister. I told her that although the school would form part of the new community college, the construction of which will begin in 1995, alternative accommodation would have to be found in the interim to ensure the students would not be dissipated to other schools.
A list of alternative accommodation was submitted to the Minister and she said she will keep in touch with the parents and teachers. I have no doubt that the Minister will respond positively when suitable accommodation is found. The Minister is committed to the concept of a new community college in Cahir.
I wish to thank the Deputy for raising this matter. It gives me an opportunity of outlining the position regarding arrangements for second level places for the boys of St. Joseph's secondary school, Cahir and for the future employment of the staff of the school.
There are three post-primary schools in the Cahir centre as follows:
|
Enrolment 1993-94 |
|
|
St. Joseph's Secondary School (lay managed) |
119 |
|
Convent of Mercy |
423 |
|
Vocational School |
284 |
Each of the school buildings is in poor condition and in need of replacement or extensive upgrading.
In the early eighties new building projects were sanctioned for the convent school and the vocational school. Subsequently in January 1985, following unsuccessful attempts to reach agreement on a single school development, it was decided that two new schools would be provided in Cahir, a vocational school and a co-educational secondary school, subject to the agreement of the two secondary school managements. Such an agreement was not forthcoming and in July 1985 the Minister agreed that the planning of the new Mercy Secondary School should proceed as originally sanctioned.
In the context of the renewed emphasis on rationalisation, the Department raised again with the managements the question of a single school for Cahir. Following prolonged discussions at local level, agreement was reached in 1989 on the provision of a single post-primary school for the centre. Agreement was also reached that the amalgamated school should be a community college under the aegis of County Tipperary (SR) Vocational Education Committee.
As is the case with all such major building projects the numbers to be provided for in the proposed new school in Cahir were reviewed on a number of occasions since 1989. In the light of the latest information on demographic trends it is proposed to plan the school for 800 pupils in the long-term. Architectural planning of the new school is at stage 4. The project is included in the list of building projects which it is hoped will commence construction in 1995 and 1996.
In the interim since 1989 the condition of all three school buildings in Cahir deteriorated further. Essential repairs were carried out to the secondary and vocational schools to enable them to continue to function adequately pending the provision of the new school building. In the case of St. Joseph's College the outlay which would be involved in bringing the school buildings up to an acceptable standard for insurance purposes etc. was prohibitive. In the circumstances the management authorities decided to close the school with effect from July 1994 and notified the Department accordingly on 6 February 1994.
The Deputy may be assured that sufficient places will be made available for the students of St. Joseph's college next September. A number of options for the provision of alternative accommodation are being examined in the Department in consultation with local school managements.
The staff of St. Joseph's college consists of a principal and seven permanent teachers. Discussions will take place shortly with the interested parties on the position of the teachers currently serving in the school.
The Dáil adjourned at 9.30 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 10 March 1994.