asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the extremely bad condition of the school building of Carrickbyrne national school, County Wexford; if he will detail the repairs which would be necessary to bring this school building into a satisfactory condition; whether his Department have at present under consideration plans for the building of an new school for the Carrickbyrne and Newbawn area; if so, if the parents in the area have been consulted about these plans; and when it is expected that either the old school will be repaired or the new school built.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Wexford School.
63.
I am aware of the conditions at Carrickbyrne national school. At my Department's request, an officer of the Commissioners of Public Works discussed recently with the Reverend Manager the question of carrying out improvements to the school in order to alleviate conditions for the period during which the school will remain in operation, pending its amalgamation with the Newbawn national school, some two miles away. A new building is to be provided for the amalgamated schools. The Reverend Manager considered that expenditure on the Carrickbyrne school would be useless and unwarranted, and I am prepared to accept that view. I have not particulars of the improvements that would be necessary to bring the school building into a satisfactory condition, but I understand that they would be extensive and costly.
The proposal to combine the Carrickbyrne and Newbawn schools has been discussed with the Reverend Manager of both schools. It is the Department's practice to deal directly with the school managers in such matters but any representations from parents are given careful consideration.
Planning of the new school at Newbawn is at an advanced stage, and, provided satisfactory evidence of title to the site offered by the manager is forthcoming, the Commissioners of Public Works expect to be in a position to invite tenders in the course of the next few weeks.
Would the Minister say when he first became aware of the condition of the school?
Does the Deputy mean the Minister or the Department?
I assume the Minister takes responsibility for his Department?
If the Deputy means the Department, I think the Department were aware of this some time ago.
About how long ago?
I could not give the Deputy the exact date.
Years or months?
I do not know but I would guess it would be a couple of years.
Does the Minister appreciate the feelings of the parents in this area who in recent times have refused to send their children to school because of the state of this building? Would the Minister agree that a place where rats are to be seen is not a proper place in which to educate young children?
I do agree, and that is why we are building a new school. We hope to obtain tenders for it in the next few weeks.
The Minister will appreciate that the building of this school is going to take some time? In the meantime what is to happen to the Carrickbyrne school? Are no repairs to be done at all?
No. As I told the Deputy, the manager considers that expenditure of this nature would be useless and unwarranted and I am prepared to accept that view.
How long does the Minister think it will take to build a new school?
I could not tell the Deputy that—perhaps ten months or something like that.
Are the children supposed to go to this school for another ten or maybe 18 months?
The Deputy is aware we have inherited a legacy of schools one hundred years old or older and we cannot tackle them all overnight.
I appreciate that. The Minister says nothing will be done to improve this school until the new school is built?
That is correct.
That is scandalous. Will the Minister further say whether or not there will be consultation with the parents?
I have mentioned that any representations received from the parents in that connection are carefully considered.
What is the procedure? Would an inspector from the Minister's Department be prepared to attend a meeting of the parents in the area?
He would.