Vol. 229 No. 8
asked the Minister for Education the present plans for the enlargement of Saint Pappin's national school, Ballymun, Dublin, on a permanent basis; the number of children which these plans provide for; and if, in view of the widespread concern of the residents of the area that the plans announced to them are not adequate to cater for the anticipated growth of the area, he will make a statement on the matter.
35.
asked the Minister for Education when it is anticipated that the dual day providing only three hours' schooling per child each day operated at Saint Pappin's national school, Ballymun, Dublin will no longer be necessary; and if he will arrange to provide an adequate number of pre-fabricated units forthwith to enable normal school hours to be operated in the next school year.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 35 together.
Three groups of schools, one for boys and one for girls in each case with overall accommodation for about 4,800 pupils are to be provided in the Ballymun area. On the basis of the information available to me I consider that the new schools, when erected, will cater adequately for the primary educational needs of the area, but the schools will be so designed that they can, if necessary, be enlarged. The contract for the building of the first group of these schools to accommodate 2,000 pupils will be placed very shortly and building work will proceed without delay. The arrangements for the building of the remaining schools are receiving urgent attention.
Meanwhile temporary arrangements have been made to provide additional primary educational facilities for about 260 pupils through the operation of a dual day at St. Pappin's national school, Ballymun and six prefabricated classrooms, with accommodation for 270-300 pupils, have been erected at the site of the first of the proposed new schools, and will come into operation on 3rd July, 1967. The dual day has been introduced at St. Pappin's national school as a purely temporary measure only and will be terminated at the earliest possible moment.
Is it anticipated that the dual day will be terminated within the forthcoming school year?
This is possible, but I cannot say positively that it will be. In the contract which will be placed very shortly for the first group of schools to which I have referred, there is provision that as each block of classrooms is built, it will be handed over and occupied so that it could result in the abolition of the dual day in the coming year.
In the event of that not materialising, would the Minister consider the erection of additional pre-fab units over and above those already erected, as a temporary solution? It is extremely undesirable, in a growing area such as this, that children should be left with only three hours of schooling per day.
The Deputy can rest assured that if it should appear that further accommodation is necessary, the Minister will see to it that it is provided.
I hope so.
