asked the Minister for Education the present number of potential pupils on waiting lists for Dublin primary schools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Primary School Pupils.
35.
The information requested by the Deputy is not made available to my Department.
Is the Minister aware that there is great concern among parents because of the marked increase in the number of pupils awaiting admission?
There is no information in the Department——
Is the Minister aware, without going specifically into numbers, that people in Dublin city are very concerned lest their children may not secure a place in a primary school?
I am not so aware.
Would the Minister's Department look into this matter?
I am sure they do.
How can the Minister make out that we have a satisfactory primary school system in Dublin if there is a shortage of accommodation for children at such schools? Is the Minister saying he is unaware of any waiting list of children for primary school?
That was not the supplementary question asked by Deputy Dr. O'Connell.
In his reply, the Minister stated he was not aware of any such problem.
I did not say anything of the sort.
What did the Minister say?
That was not the supplementary question asked by Deputy O'Connell.
Deputy O'Connell spoke of the anxiety felt by parents of young children awaiting admission to primary school and the Minister said he was not aware of it. Is the Minister seriously saying he is unaware of it?
I did not——
Next question.
Is the Minister aware of the concern of parents in Dublin city because of a very long waiting list for primary school?
The Department is dealing with the matter, as the Deputy is aware.
I am aware I was told they were not so aware. If they are so aware, what is being done about it?
I am sure the Deputy is aware that, where extra accommodation is necessary, the manager of the school applies to the Department for permission to provide extra accommodation and that this permission is readily granted.
Would the Minister give an assurance that the Department will look into this question?
There is no need for me to give that assurance. The Department is always concerned with it.
Will parents be assured that their children will be admitted?
Next question.