asked the Minister for Education if he will reconsider hisdecision not to reopen Loorha National School, Dunmore, County Galway, and have a full investigation carried out in connection with the necessity for its reopening.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Reopening of County Galway School.
There are six schools within a radius of three miles from the former Loorha school. The information at my disposal shows that the great majority of the pupils in the Loorha area reside less than two miles from one or other of these schools and that no child resides more than two and a half miles from one of these schools. In the circumstances, I can see no adequate reason for the reopening of Loorha school.
I regret the Minister for Education is not here. I want to point out to the Minister that some children have to travel over 3½ miles to Shanballymore National School and that is a school to which the children from the area used to go prior to the establishment of Loorha National School, which was established in 1898. That school was established because at that time children were drowned going to Shanballymore school where they are forced to go to-day in the self same way. In view of the fact that the manager, Father Burke, P.P., Dunmore, and the Archbishop of Tuam are behind the move for the reopening of this school, I would ask the Minister for Lands to impress on the Minister for Education the great necessity for carrying out an investigation and having that school reopened.
Very well.