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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 16 Dec 1970

Vol. 250 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cavan Vocational Schools.

105.

(Cavan) asked the Minister for Education if he will explain the delay in providing prefabricated classrooms for Cavan, Belturbet and Bawnboy vocational schools in view of the urgent need for those classrooms.

The accommodation position at each of these schools was reviewed at the beginning of the present school year in the light of actual enrolments. It was found that these enrolments did not warrant the provision of prefabricated classrooms. When the unauthorised senior classes at Belturbet and Virginia have been transferred to Cavan Vocational School the question of providing prefabricated classrooms at Cavan will have immediate attention.

(Cavan): Does the Parliamentary Secretary not realise that the Cavan Vocational School is completely overcrowded at the moment and that a number of rooms have had to be hired in the Poor Clare Convent which is right across the town? Irrespective of the position of what the Parliamentary Secretary called the unauthorised classes, there is not room in the Cavan technical school for all the pupils at present enrolled there. Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of that position? If I might anticipate the next question, how does the Parliamentary Secretary expect 50 pupils or students to be transferred from Belturbet and Virginia to a building that is already grossly overcrowded?

If I might deal with the question itself, as the Deputy is already aware two mobile classrooms were approved in August last on the basis of the CEO's projected enrolment of 368 in Cavan Vocational School. This was later reduced by the CEO to 310 for 1970-71. The actual enrolment turned out to be 283, due to circumstances of which I think the Deputy will be aware. At that time it was felt that the accommodation was adequate. I can appreciate the Deputy's concern, but he might understand why it was that what was to be sanctioned was not sanctioned. In any event the case will be reviewed in the near future to ascertain whether the accommodation will be adequate for the 1971-72 school year.

(Cavan): Will the Parliamentary Secretary agree that it is utterly unreasonable to request a committee to bring 50 pupils from outside schools to a building which is already grossly overcrowded and which cannot accommodate the students already enrolled there?

The Deputy will appreciate that if the committee had taken the action recommended to them or, shall I say, had not taken the action which they had been discouraged from taking in relation to other schools, the original enrolment as notified to the Department would have been acted upon and the necessary extra accommodation would now be available. It is because of the change in the circumstances in this whole area that this situation has arisen. I appreciate that it is not possible to plan a building programme even of prefabricated classrooms in a changing and fluctuating situation where school enrolments appear to change for one reason or another. As the Deputy may know a new school building is being planned for this centre.

(Cavan): I do not propose to take up the time of the House further on this, but is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the position regarding vocational education in County Cavan is so absolutely farcical that it would not be possible to deal with it by question and answer? It would not even be possible to deal with it on the Adjournment. Will the Parliamentary Secretary take notice that when his Estimate comes before the House we will have a very long discussion on the whole ridiculous situation and the incompetent manner in which this matter is being dealt with there will be fully ventilated?

The Deputy is now making a statement.

The Parliamentary Secretary will welcome that opportunity.

106.

(Cavan) asked the Minister for Education if he will sanction the provision of leaving certificate courses in Belturbet and Virginia vocational schools. County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

As the Deputy will be aware, the County Cavan Vocational Education Committee were informed on 10th June, 1970, that the proposed organisation of leaving certificate courses in Belturbet and Virginia would not be approved and that children from these centres should be catered for as heretofore in Cavan town, Kells and Oldcastle. Notwithstanding this, the committee went ahead and instructed the headmasters in Belturbet and Virginia to organise leaving certificate classes in those schools. The committee were notified by letter of 16th July that they were liable to surcharge for any expenditure incurred in the provision of these courses which were unauthorised. In reply to a request to me to receive a deputation, the committee were notified on 19th October that I had confirmed my Department's original rulings and that no useful purpose would be served by my receiving a deputation.

(Cavan): May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if these students who are attending a leaving certificate class in Belturbet and Virginia will be permitted to sit for the examination?

I cannot honestly answer that immediately but I can see no reason why not. Perhaps the Deputy should seek information on that again.

(Cavan): Does the Parliamentary Secretary not now realise that it is quite unreasonable to refuse to sanction these classes in Virginia and Belturbet on the basis that they should be housed in Cavan when he knows that there is no accommodation in Cavan?

The Deputy realises that the aim is to make adequate provision for equal facilities, equal education for all pupils at that level and to provide that, with numbers such as they have in Belturbet of 18—eight boys and ten girls—and in Virginia of 25—14 boys and II girls—would not be feasible. It gives me the opportunity, too, to suggest that I am informed that the accommodation in Cavan Vocational School is adequate for integrated classes of boys and girls.

(Cavan): Not a bit of it.

Perhaps if that were done there would not be the congestion the Deputy has been talking about.

(Cavan): Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that in the counties of Leitrim, Monaghan and, I believe, Longford there are many classes smaller in number than those which the Minister has refused to sanction in Cavan?

I am not so aware.

(Cavan): May I suggest to the Parliamentary Secretary that he should have a look at this in advance and prepare himself for his Estimate when it comes up.

It may involve rationalisation in the places to which the Deputy refers rather than anything else.

(Cavan): The position in Cavan is just a scandal, We had a school ready to build with plans prepared and then it was suggested to us that it should be transferred to another site altogether for the purpose of holding it up for years.

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