Vol. 471 No. 6
2 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education if she will give permanent recognition to Crumlin multi-denominational school, Dublin 12; and the urgent steps, if any, she will take to provide suitable accommodation for the school in order to prevent an impending eviction from taking place. [21424/96]
The Crumlin multi-denominational school had its origins in another multi-denominational school, the South City School Project, which up to March, 1993 was based in surplus school accommodation in the Crumlin area. In March 1993, however, this building was destroyed by fire and the school project was eventually relocated in alternative school accommodation in Nutgrove, Rath-farnham. Because the decision to move to Rathfarnham was not acceptable to some parents, an application for a new multi-denominational school to serve the greater Crumlin area was submitted to my Department.
Temporary recognition was given to the new school, the Crumlin multi-denominational school, with effect from September 1994. It is now in its third school year of operation at present and has an enrolment of 30 pupils. The school has been asked to vacate its current temporary accommodation.
As with all new multi-denominational or all-Irish schools, initial recognition was granted to the Crumlin school on a temporary basis. When such schools have been in operation for a number of years and can satisfy my Department with regard to their conduct and future viability, permanent recognition may be granted.
While the school is operating with temporary recognition, it is the responsibility, under my Department's regulations, of school management to provide temporary accommodation under the present rules of my Department. It is only when permanent recognition has been granted that such schools can claim capital grant-aid from my Department. Crumlin multi-denominational school has temporary recognition at present and, accordingly, does not qualify for grant-aid for capital works.
The school has applied for permanent recognition and this application is being processed by my Department as a matter of urgency. Officials from my Department met a deputation from the management of the school and Educate Together on 16 October 1996 to discuss the issues. The views put forward by the deputation will be taken into account in the examination of the application for permanent recognition.
As in the case of all national schools with temporary recognition, future viability is a key consideration when decisions with regard to permanent status are being taken. The growth potential of such schools must be closely examined at a time when overall pupil numbers at primary level are falling at a rate of 11,000 per annum.
I assure the Deputy that there will be no undue delay in processing this application and that the accommodation problem will be reviewed immediately in the light of that decision.
I find such complacency breathtaking. The school has not been asked to leave, it is under threat of eviction by the developers. Two parents have been summoned to court as financial guarantors of the school. Drug addicts are operating in the back sheds of the school, which was burgled yesterday. I spoke to a teacher who said the school is under siege. Conditions are appalling. It is five months since the Minister became aware of the threat of eviction hanging over these 33 children and their two teachers. It is disgraceful and scandalous that she has not intervened and accommodated these children more suitably.
In line with the White Paper on education, early and permanent recognition must be given to the schools so capital moneys can be released to facilitate a more permanent setting. Despite the cant about developing multi-denominational education, these children who are in a perhaps disadvantaged low income area with few resources are not getting help from anybody, least of all from the Minister.
The Deputy has painted a picture of a sudden eviction. The premises were given to the school on a one year lease so it is a matter of concern rather than surprise. I do not underestimate the amount of time and help the Department officials have given to this group of people. There were difficulties in rehousing the south city school project. The Department, in conjunction with Educate Together, were able to rehouse the original group in a school, which was not easy.
The school accommodation committee will examine the present rules. Under the rules by which this group set up its second school, temporary recognition is a problem because unless the Department gives permanent recognition it is not officially involved or obliged to involve itself in providing accommodation. The Department has made every effort to accommodate this group. There is a prefabricated building available, but we have not located a site for it. The group want to maintain the multi-denominational group in the Crumlin area. While many avenues have been explored by the parents and Educate Together, there is no obligation on officials under the rules of the Department. While much time has been given, the outcome has not been successful. We will continue to help a group of people who had accommodation for a year.
The picture I painted is not mine. The principal of the school has made numerous attempts to contact the Minister and her programme manager. They consistently failed to return the numerous calls to her office, despite being aware of the gravity of the problem. They have not received any news since their meeting with officials on 16 October. Do words mean anything any more? Does the White Paper mean anything? It promised early recognition of multi-denominational schools and gaelscoileanna. This school has been in operation since 1993. If we gave it permanent recognition, it would help to unlock the logjam that is preventing it from securing more permanent accommodation. The regime that governs multi-denominational education is restrictive and is placing too onerous a duty on the parents concerned.
We cannot afford the luxury of argument.
The Minister should resolve this problem and treat those involved with respect.
On 21 October I met a delegation from the group involved. The parents want to hear the good news that a site or building has been found. The officials in the Department have met them and there is concern about their future. It would be easy to distribute recognition arbitrarily.
The White Paper offers it.
A schools accommodation commission has been established, which includes a representative of Educate Together and the gaelscoileanna. Given the fall in population, the future viability of schools has to be secured. The present rules of the Department of Education were fashioned when the population was growing and there was no planning for a future where there were fewer children entering a better financed system. It is more than timely to review those rules.
It is important that not only are the general partners involved in determining a review of the existing rules but that Educate Together and the other schools that add a plurality of choice to the system are represented. The news the group wants is that we have found them a school. I spoke to them about their problems. I look forward to the active participation of Educate Together and the other groups in the school commission so that the rules, which are not of my making, will be reviewed in the light of viability for the investment schools should receive.
The meeting to which the Minister referred was a public meeting on 21 October, hosted by Deputy Costello and the Dublin constituency branch of the Labour Party. The parents who attended, were eventually silenced by Deputy Costello——
They were not.
——and were irate at the treatment they received from him. They want the Minister to give some commitment to using Government land and buildings in the area. She refused to reply on that occasion. Can she throw any light on the subject now?
I want to correct the impression the Deputy has given about that meeting. The parents took the opportunity of the public occasion to make their point. I spoke to them when the meeting concluded. Areas and sites were identified at that meeting. Any suggestion that has come into the Department that requires research, reaction or response is and has been examined. This group has received information from officials in the Department. I cannot give them the help they request.
