asked the Minister for Education if he will state in respect of the Model Schools, Marlborough Street, Dublin, the number of teachers and pupils; the average number of pupils in each class; and the number of pupils under each teacher.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Marlborough Street (Dublin) Model Schools.
As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to have it circulated with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:—
|
School |
Number of teachers |
Total Number of pupils |
Average Number of pupils per teacher |
Remarks |
|
|
On Rolls |
In average attendance |
||||
|
Central Model Boys' |
12excluding Principal |
507 |
42 |
37.5 |
Portion of the Principal's time is devoted to supervisory work, interviewing parents, etc. |
|
Central Model Girls' |
6 |
237 |
39.5 |
32.7 |
|
|
Central Model Infants' |
8excluding Principal |
374 |
46.7 |
39.4 |
do. |
|
Special Irish Schools: |
|||||
|
Scoil Mhuire |
6excluding Principal |
222 |
37 |
33.5 |
do. |
|
Scoil Colmchille |
5 |
184 |
37 |
33.4 |
|
|
Scoil Gaolach Ullmhuchán |
4 |
153 |
38 |
32 |
The figures given above are in respect of the year ended 31st December, 1957.
asked the Minister for Education whether complaints have been received in his Department from school teachers, school children, parents, or visiting doctors, that teachers and children have to work without adequate lighting in the Model Schools, Marlborough Street, Dublin, to the detriment of their eyesight, and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter.
asked the Minister for Education why the Model Schools at Marlborough Street, Dublin, are not normally lighted by electricity; and if he will state his Department's objection to having the schools so lighted.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 73 together.
No complaints have been received from school teachers, pupils or parents in regard to the lighting of the Central Model Schools, Marlborough Street. Classwork in these schools ends at 2.40 p.m. each day with the result that it is seldom that it is necessary to resort to artificial lighting which is by gas. In 1957 the school medical officer stated in a report on the school premises that the lighting was not adequate in some of them. The installation of electric lighting in the boys' school was urged. The question of having all the schools so lighted is under consideration at present.
asked the Minister for Education if he will state for how long the Department of Posts and Telegraphs used the Marlborough Street Model Schools as a parcel sorting office at Christmas; and whether the schools were lit by electricity for this purpose, and the supply of current removed when work concluded, and, if so, why the electric supply was not allowed to remain in the schools.
The Central Model Schools have been in use by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs for a few weeks in December during the Christmas pressure period each year since 1917. An electric lighting system of a purely temporary nature is provided by that Department to enable the staff to work at night time. This temporary installation is removed early in January each year and it would be entirely unsuitable for retention as a permanent arrangement.
Would the Minister say what is the cost of the temporary installation each year?
That is a matter for the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. I have no responsibility for it.