asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that the Loreto Convent school which has been teaching in Enniscorthy for the past 100 years will have to close down next June because of his Department's decision to phase it out of the free education scheme; and, if so, if he will take action so that this school will be co-opted into the free education scheme to enable it to carry on its admirable work.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Enniscorthy School.
16.
It is not correct to say that the Loreto School, Enniscorthy will have to close down because of my Department's decision to phase it out of the free education scheme.
The position is that following discussions among all the interested parties held with a view to rationalising the provision for secondary education for girls and providing educationally viable units, the Loreto Order agreed to withdraw from Enniscorthy.
I might mention that consequent on other rationalisation measures in Wexford, the Loreto Order will have much greater responsibilities there in the future.
Would the Minister not agree that the reason for the Loreto Convent withdrawing in the near future from Enniscorthy is the fact that they were denied State facilities made available to other convents in the area? Would he not further agree that the withdrawal of this convent will cause serious overloading on the other convents?
I could not agree with either of those suggestions. Firstly, the Loreto Order made the decision to withdraw; they were not forced to withdraw. They attended a meeting at which the whole position was explained and, as I have said, a similar operation was carried out in Wexford town and has resulted in greater responsibilities being taken on by that Order and fewer by other Orders. It is a question of rationalising the educational facilities. I do not agree that there will not be adequate provision in Enniscorthy. The whole object is to provide adequately for the secondary education need of girls in Enniscorthy and to provide it in viable units where very wide-ranging subjects can be provided. This is what is being done.
Would the Minister not agree to answer my supplementary? Is it not a fact that the Loreto Convent in Enniscorthy has been denied the facilities of the State which are being made available to other centres of education there?
I have said that is not so.
But it is so.
My information is that it is not, that the decision to withdraw was made by the Order itself, after consultation with all the parties concerned in education in the area.
Could I ask the Minister where is it proposed to transfer the extra 173 pupils now in the Loreto Convent? Where are they to be fitted in if the other two convents are already overcrowded?
As far as secondary school pupils are concerned, there are only 63 secondary pupils with the Loreto Order. They will be accommodated in, I think, the Mercy Order school and other arrangements will be made in connection with the junior school.
Question No. 17.
The facilities do not exist there. That is what I am putting to the Minister. Will he not take another look at it?
If the facilities do not exist, they will be provided.
Where?
The Deputy may take it that the plans entered into in this connection include the provision of adequate facilities for secondary education in Enniscorthy.
Will the Minister ask the Minister for Education to go down to Enniscorthy and have a full look at the situation? He will know the answers I have been given today are not correct.
I will draw the Minister's attention to the Deputy's objections.