asked the Minister for Education if, with regard to the decision to permanently close Knockacolletha, Killavullen, County Cork, national school, he will reconsider sympathetically this decision in view of the hardship caused to a number of school-going children.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Closing of County Cork School.
50.
The decision to close Knockacolletha national school was taken after full and careful consideration of all the circumstances.
The position is that the existing school building in Knockacolletha was no longer suitable for use as such. The small number of school-going children in the locality and the proximity of other schools would not warrant the cost which would be involved in the provision of a new school.
Would the Minister agree that because the children involved have to travel a considerably further distance the closing of the school is, in fact, a case of hardship?
My information is that there was an average of ten, and that there is no hardship involved because of the proximity of other available schools. There are other children who are not yet school-going and they will bring the figure up.
From a private letter to me, I understood that some children would be conveyed to the Killavullen national school in cars travelling to the local creamery. In view of the attendant dangers to school-going children travelling in creamery cars, would the Minister say how they are fixed with regard to insurance?
I would have to find out about that. They are not creamery cars but motor cars going to the creamery.
Would the Minister agree to have this case re-examined? There is a genuine case for having the school reconstructed, and I request the Minister to have the case for its reconstruction considered.
I understand it is beyond reconstruction. It would mean the provision of a new school. It had to be abandoned because of the report of a medical officer.
Would the Minister agree to have the decision not to build a new school reconsidered?
My decision was based on all the information I could get, and I do not know of any other information which would change it.