asked the Minister for Education whether he has received representations that the people apprehend the closing of Tirnamoe, Drummons, Mullahara, Greyglass, Clontibret, Tyholland, Drumacrutton and Bills national schools in County Monaghan; and whether he will consult the parents of children attending these schools before taking any final decision.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Monaghan Schools.
43.
The schools mentioned by the Deputy are all one-teacher schools in the vicinity of Monaghan town. There can be no question but that the educational interests of the children attending these schools would best be served by amalgamating the schools with Monaghan Model School, which is at present a three-teacher school. The process of amalgamation will be a gradual one. Free transport will, of course, be provided for the children and the Monaghan Model School premises will be suitably extended and renovated to accommodate them.
A meeting at which the parents and managers were represented was held in Monaghan on 20th June. Representatives of my Department and of the Office of Public Works were present at that meeting. If any further meeting is considered necessary, I shall be happy to arrange for an officer of my Department to be in attendance.
May I take it that if the parents of any of these school areas apply to the Minister a deputation will be received and that an understanding and sympathetic officer of his Department will attend? Does the Minister fully appreciate the peculiar significance attaching to this group of schools and the desirability of avoiding the creation of an impression in this part of Monaghan that we are closing all the Protestant schools in the area while few, if any, of the Catholic schools are being closed?
The answer to all the Deputy's supplementary questions is "yes". It would be difficult for anybody to believe that the question of closing schools, particularly one-teacher schools, is being applied only in the case of Protestant schools and I doubt if there is anyone who genuinely believes that. I do not wish to suggest that Deputy Dillon believes that or wishes anybody else to believe it. I am merely pointing out that if there are people who make this suggestion they can reasonably be taken as acting not bona fide.
I want to ask the Minister does he understand the position clearly? I do not believe the Minister is concerned to close Protestant schools. I do not believe that any rational person believes that the Minister or any other Minister for Education is concerned to close Protestant schools, but does the Minister realise that there are in the immediate vicinity of this country mischievous people who may make that suggestion and that it is desirable from our point of view, no matter what side of the House we sit, that we should be in a position to say to any critic: "Listen, the Minister himself discussed this matter with the parents and gave sympathetic consideration to the special circumstances obtaining in these cases" and that there could be no question of any arbitrary action being taken by our Minister?
What the Deputy has said represents the position exactly.
And will the Minister say that I am free to say that if the parents wish to see the Minister or a responsible official of his Department, they can do so?
Yes.
Have I the Minister's authority to say to the parents in these areas that none of these schools will be closed without their first having the right of approach to the Minister?
Yes.
And if you hear them, you will consider their views?
Yes, subject to one thing. I do not want the matter to be raised within a week.
You must be told now.
Yes.