asked the Minister for Education if consulations with parents are carried out by his Department in all cases of national school closures before a final decision is made; and if he will outline in detail the nature of such consultations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Closure of Schools.
21.
The purpose of such consultation is to inform parents of what is contemplated and to place before them the educational advantages to be gained from the attendance of their children at larger school units.
May I ask if, in fact, it is a matter of departmental policy that parents in all schools as stated in the question are consulted prior to the final decisions being taken relating to the closure?
In cases where we are informed by the manager that the parents have no objection to the closing down of a school there is no need for the intervention of the Department.
I am preoccupied with the functions of managers and equally preoccupied with the direct involvement of the parents concerned and with the teachers who also ought to be consulted but generally are not. Would the Minister not agree that in all cases of closures of national schools—and as the Minister is aware I supported the policy of rationalisation although I detest the manner in which it is being done in some instances—there must be consultation with the parents? A departmental inspector should attend a meeting——
We cannot have a debate on this question.
Would the Minister not inform the local school manager that there should be a meeting of parents at which a departmental inspector would attend in order to consult with the parents?
When this matter is discussed by the manager, teachers and parents I do not see any reason for such consultation with the Department if the parents are willing that the school should be closed. This is the situation in the vast majority of cases. I do not see any reason why the Department should intervene in such a case.
In the event of representations being made by parents for such consultation with the Minister could the Minister give an assurance that such consultation would take place?
I am sure that if there was a large body of opinion among the parents requesting such consultation we could see to it that it is arranged. I should like to point out to the Deputy, who has referred to the manner in which these schools have been closed and who has said he detests this, that we have to date closed more than 680 small schools and the number of problems in relation to these closures has been very small.
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asked the Minister for Education if he will make a general statement on Government policy regarding the closure or retention of three-teacher national schools throughout the country.
The policy in regard to the closure of small schools relates mainly to one- and two-teacher schools.
The ideal arrangement would be one where a school would have a teacher for each separate class. This in relation to many rural areas would be capable of attainment only through transport services which would cover very wide areas and would result in many children having to spend an undue length of time in travelling. Furthermore it would entail bringing children to school outside their own parish, something that is to be avoided wherever possible.
Accordingly, if it became a practical proposition to provide, in a parish, a central school with five or more teachers and this involved the closing of a three-teacher school which was due for replacement then efforts would be made to have the three-teacher school closed and to give all the children in the parish the benefits of the larger school.