asked the Minister for Education when extra classrooms will be provided at the different national schools in the Cromcastle/Kilmore area, Coolock, Dublin, in order to end the dual-day system for the 750 pupils involved.
31.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin School Accommodation.
30.
asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the fact that children attending both primary and post-primary schools who reside in the Bonnybrook/Kilmore/ Cromcastle area, Dublin are forced, through lack of accommodation locally, to attend 21 different schools outside the area, he will arrange for the provision of free transport in such cases.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 31 together.
It was hoped to have sufficient accommodation available in the new schools for boys and girls at present being built in the Cromcastle/Kilmore area, by September, 1971 and thus end the dual-day system which entails a slightly shorter school day for infant pupils. As only portion of the new buildings will be completed on that date, however, arrangements are being made for the transfer from a nearby school of prefabricated classrooms, which will shortly become surplus at that school, so that all primary school children may be on a full day's schooling as from September, 1971.
In relation to the other area, I understand that there is spare accommodation available in national schools in a neighbouring parish. I am having the matter examined with a view to seeing how best that accommodation can be utilised to cater for primary school going children from the area mentioned by the Deputy. Pending the outcome of that investigation, I could not authorise the provision of free transport to schools outside this area.
As I have pointed out in my reply to the Deputy's question in regard to the post-primary facilities the school accommodation is adequate at the moment and, therefore, the question of providing transport to other centres does not arise.
Is the Minister aware that the secondary school which is supposed to be ready in September will not be ready and that 14 classrooms and two other rooms—I do not know what to call them—provide places for 640 pupils? Is he further aware that since this plan came into operation there have been 1,600 new houses built and 128 new flats?
A very progressive Government.
They were privately built. For over ten years no schools have been provided. Arising out of Question No. 30, is the Minister aware that there are 1,150 pupils attending 21 schools outside the area, some as far as Rathfarnham? The majority are going to O'Connell, St. Canice, Clontarf, Fairview and William Street schools. The Minister will not provide schools in the area nor will he provide buses to transport pupils to other schools.
The Deputy may not make a speech.
The Minister answered these questions together and I am entitled to ask a supplementary.
I have already informed the Deputy that portion of the new building will be completed by September, 1971——
It will not be.
——and that arrangements are being made for the transfer from the nearby school of prefabricated classrooms which will shortly become surplus to that school.
That is incorrect.
I have already informed the Deputy that there is spare accommodation available in national schools in a neighbouring parish. The Deputy mentions the fact that a number of children are going to school a considerable distance away. This is because they came from these areas and that rather than go to schools in the parish which is just beside them they would prefer to go back to the schools which they have been attending.
The Minister should not talk nonsense.
Does the Minister agree that his Department have failed completely to plan ahead and keep in touch with developments in County Dublin?
The Minister does not agree to anything of the sort. In fact, if I were to open all the new schools we have built in Dublin and in the vicinity I would not be able to do anything else in my Department.
The schools mentioned by Deputy Belton are only an instance.