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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 28 Nov 1968

Vol. 237 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Closing of Schools.

100.

asked the Minister for Education whether (a) the condition of the school, (b) the shortage of teachers or (c) the convenience of the pupils is the primary factor in having a school closed.

101.

asked the Minister for Education how many schools erected in the last ten years have been closed and have had their pupils transferred to other schools.

102.

asked the Minister for Education (a) the number of schools closed in the past year whose pupils have been transferred to other schools, (b) the number of such schools which were unfit for use and (c) the number of such schools which were fit for use.

With your permission a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 100, 101 and 102 together.

The provision of better educational facilities is the basic consideration underlying a decision to close a school for the purpose of amalgamation.

No school erected within the past ten years has been closed in connection with the policy of seeking larger schools.

One hundred and forty-three schools have been closed in the past year.

While architects reports had not been furnished on all of these schools 42 of them had in fact been scheduled for replacement and the information on the remainder indicated that they were not up to modern requirements.

May I take it that the Minister will not close a school which is up to modern requirements?

We have had a deputation from the Deputy on that.

Would the Minister not consider it desirable to lay down a principle whereby when school closures are in contemplation the parents would be interviewed by responsible officers of his Department before the final decision to close down the school was taken? If Deputies were in a position to say to parents who were alarmed about rumours: "Nothing will be done until two responsible officers of the Department have visited your parish. You will have an opportunity of discussing it", this would greatly simplify what appears to be an admirable reform. There is a parish in my constituency which is in a state of uproar about rumours which I believe are groundless and which could be dissipated by saying that everything will be explained by responsible officers.

I want to assure the Deputy that that is precisely the way my mind is running. I have issued a direction to that effect. So far as the future is concerned, a full explanation will be given to the parents, and the managers will be present before any such school is closed. I agree there is a need for communication. When the matter is fully explained by responsible officers and when the undoubted advantages are fully explained they will be accepted by the parents. Where this has happened the results have been excellent. That will be the practice.

Is the Minister aware that that has not been the practice up to now?

103.

asked the Minister for Education the exact position in relation to the amalgamation of Boicetown and Dysart schools, County Louth; what decisions or sanctions for building are required from his Department; and if he can expedite the commencement of work on this project.

My Department have sanctioned a grant towards the cost of erecting a new central school at Dysart which will cater for the pupils of both Dysart and Boicetown districts.

I understand that tenders for the erection of the new building which have been received in the Office of Public Works are at present being examined and it is expected that a contract will be placed at an early date.

104.

asked the Minister for Education whether he has any further proposals for the closure of schools in the South Tipperary-West Waterford area; and, if so, what proposals he has for the future education of the children concerned.

The position is that in implementing the policy of securing better education through providing larger school units the Department reviews, particularly when the question of the replacement of a school arises, the provision for primary education in the area concerned. Each case is accordingly considered on its merits.

It is not possible, therefore, to anticipate what schools may be closed in furtherance of this policy.

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