First of all, I want to thank you for allowing me to raise this most important issue on the Adjournment. I also wish to thank the Minister for his presence here again tonight. As the Minister is probably aware, the history of education in Oldcastle is perhaps unique in Ireland. The Gilson School, Oldcastle, was established in the year 1829. It was founded by Laurence Gilson and was an endowed school. Laurence Gilson was a native of Oldcastle. He was a ne'er-do-well and emigrated. Some years later he returned dressed as a tramp. The Gilson family would not admit him to their home. He returned in a coach of four, wearing a bowler hat, and he was welcomed by everybody. When he died he left his money for educational purposes to the people of Oldcastle.
This particular school was a primary school and a secondary school. As well as the usual educational facilities it provides horticulture, woodwork and cookery. In fact the founder of the school at that time had the full concept of vocational education in mind. When the need to provide a new post-primary school in Oldcastle arose numerous meetings were held between the members of the Meath Vocational Committee and the school management board. The school management board in Oldcastle was established at the foundation of this school. It had an equal representation of both the Catholic and Protestant community. Back in 1829 we had a school in Oldcastle which provided the primary education curriculum plus woodwork, horticulture and cookery. Subsequent to the meetings between the Meath Vocational Education Committee and the Gilson board an amalgamation took place in 1969. A special board was then set up comprising of members of the Gilson endowed school and the Meath Vocational Education Committee. At that time an undertaking was given that facilities equal to those in comprehensive school would be provided.
At that time all comprehensive schools had a full size gymnasium and canteen. An extension was provided between 1970 and 1972 to provide general classrooms and prefabs for a number of years. The Meath Vocational Education Committee and the Department of Education decided to carry out the building programme to the school in three phases. Phase 3 was the proposed gymnasium, which is the matter for discussion tonight, which has not yet commenced. Agreement was reached with officials of the Department to draw up plans for the gymnasium in 1973. The plans were shelved by the Coalition Government in 1974. A further survey was carried out to assess accommodation requirements in 1980. Approval for the extension to cater for 450 pupils was given on the 21 May 1980. Plans were prepared by the architects and approved. More detailed plans were prepared which were not approved because the Department statistician, Mr. Paul Doyle, detected a drop in school enrolment at that time. He awaited the statistics from the primary schools in the catchment area. After a 15 months lapse these statistics seemed to show that the attendance at the school would settle at approximately 375 pupils. In 1983 approval was granted to draw up plans and include a PE facility. These plans are still progressing at a very slow pace. The last set of drawings were submitted to the Department in May 1984 and approved in April 1985. The next set of drawings is now almost completed by the architect.
As a matter of interest, the enrolments in St. Oliver's Post-Primary School, Oldcastle, are as follows: 1980-81, 404 pupils; 1981-82, 442 pupils; 1982-83, 444 pupils; 1983-84, 459 pupils; 1984-85, 452 pupils. The enrolment for this year is 440 pupils. It is my understanding that when the special board was set up it was to be autonomous. I was a member of Meath Vocational Education Committee and a member of the board from 1974 to 1979 and from my experience it is completely restricted in its operation in so far as it has to seek approval from both Meath VEC and the Department of Education for sanction of any decisions taken. I understand that the school management board wrote to the Minister, Deputy Hussey, last April requesting a change in the composition of the board. To date no satisfactory reply has been given with regard to that request.
The original meeting held in 1969 between Meath VEC and the governors of the Gilson School was chaired by Mr. Seán Ó Mathúna of the Department of Education and a definite undertaking was given to provide facilities equal to those in comprehensive schools. My main bone of contention is that both the Department and the various Ministers for Education, of all Governments, have reneged on that commitment. I call on the Minister to honour the commitment given and expedite the plans for the completion of the extension to St. Oliver's Post-Primary School as guaranteed at the initial amalgamation meeting. Both myself and my family got our education at that school as did almost every family in that catchment. We have a fine school in Oldcastle with a very proud record but the facilities we had expected from the beginning have not been provided. The old board amalgamated with the VEC and at the time that was a major breakthrough in the education system.
We have many problems all over the country trying to establish community and other new schools. In some towns in the country, there are schools run by the Christian Brothers, vocational schools, convent schools, and yet in other towns there is not a decent school. I am thinking particularly of Kells or Ceanannus Mór. We were hopeful we would get a new school with the amalgamation of all three bodies there but there has been a lot of hassle. If you want a perfect answer go back through the books and see what happened in Oldcastle. We are very proud of our school there except that we have not got the facilities that were guaranteed at that time. I appeal to the Minister to look at this matter and provide that extra facility.
