Vol. 202 No. 11
asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware of the present extreme shortage of accommodation in Glasheen national schools, Cork, where children need to have their names on a waiting list for two years prior to admission, and where no child is admitted to any but the infant class; and whether he will take immediate steps to provide additional school accommodation in the area.
15.
asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware that it is proposed to erect a new five-classroom national school for boys at Douglas, Cork, whereas there are at present six teachers on the staff, and some hundreds of new houses are shortly to be built in the area; and whether he will take steps to ensure that a larger school is provided than that at present proposed.
16.
asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware that the recently erected three-room national school for girls at Togher, Cork, is already overcrowded; that there are now four teachers on the staff; and that there is a strong probability that more accommodation will be needed in the near future owing to increased house-building in the area; and whether he will take immediate steps to provide additional accommodation at this school.
17.
asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware that there are at present nine teachers on the staff of the five-room national school at Ballyphehane, Cork, which was built about three years ago; and that the building of a second five-room school nearby will result in duplication and overlapping rather than in a rational extension of accommodation; and whether he will now take steps to enlarge the present accommodation at Ballyphehane school.
18.
asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware that pupils cannot be retained beyond fourth standard in the Churchfield boys' national school, Cork, owing to lack of space in the present five-room building built about three years ago; and whether he will take immediate steps to provide additional accommodation at this school.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take questions Nos. 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 together. I am fully aware of the position in relation to the schools mentioned and in that connection I would refer the Deputy to my reply of 8th May.
Would the Minister agree that the need for increased accommodation referred to in these questions is indicative of the economic growth we are experiencing in the country at the present time?
You might get a rude shock about some of your economic growth in that area.
We are doing very well in that area. Even the Irish Times says so.
That is a poor Bible for you.
Is the Minister convinced of that?
I am, yes. I am quite pleased. We could do better, of course, and we shall.
Is the Minister satisfied with the situation that children who desire to obtain accommodation in these schools cannot be accommodated at the moment? Is he satisfied that the plans for schools are sufficient where it is indicated that the number of teachers at present working in the schools exceeds the number of rooms proposed in the buildings to be erected?
I am aware of the problem there. I told Deputy Galvin last week that we had supplied about 4,000 places and that plans exist for about 3,000 places. My Department are taking up with the people in the locality any change in present buildings or plans for future buildings that may require extension.
19.
asked the Minister for Education the number of ordinary parish national schools built in each year from 1957 to date in the city and suburbs of Cork, and the number of such schools with (a) three rooms, (b) four rooms, (c) five rooms, and (d) over five rooms.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate for inclusion in the Official Report a tabular statement giving the information requested by the Deputy.
Following is the statement:—
NEW Schools provided in Cork City and Suburbs since 1st January, 1957.
|
Name of School |
Year of Completion |
Number of classrooms |
|
St. Patrick's Girls and Infants |
1957 |
13 |
|
Ballyphehane Girls and Infants |
1957 |
16 |
|
Ballyphehane Boys |
1959 |
5 |
|
*Spangle Hill Girls and Infants |
1959 |
13 |
|
†Bishopstown Convent |
1959 |
5 |
|
Eglantine House (Reconstructed Building) |
1959 |
8 |
|
St. Michael's, Blackrock Road |
1961 |
2 |
|
Barra Naofa |
1961 |
4 |
* Six additional classrooms were provided recently.
†Four additional classrooms were provided ecently.
20.
asked the Minister for Education whether it is the policy of his Department to limit the size of boys' ordinary national schools in Cork city and suburbs to five rooms at the maximum; if so, why; and whether he considers it desirable that, in a school system which is based on two infant classes and six standards, a limit of five rooms rather than eight rooms should be placed on school buildings in areas of rapid population growth, where there is no question of the numbers decreasing.
Such is not the policy of my Department which in every case endeavours to secure local agreement to the erection of a school which would cater adequately for the probable future needs of the locality in which it is situated.
