asked the Minister for Education where the present inmates of Letterfrack industrial school, County Galway will be placed, in view of the recent decision to close it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Letterfrack (Galway) Industrial School.
20.
I am not aware of any decision to close Letterfrack.
I have in my possession a letter from the principal of the school. When I asked permission to visit it, he said that no purpose would be served by my visiting it as it is now decided to close it on the recommendation in the Report on Reformatories and Industrial Schools. Would it not have been right for the Minister, in view of what I stated, to inquire from the principal of the school if what I stated was right? In view of what I have said now, that I have a letter stating that it is now decided to close it, will the Minister state where the present inmates will be placed?
Under section 48 of the Children's Act, 1908, six months notice of the intention to resign the certificate of industrial schools is required from the reverend managers. So far no such notice has been received in my Department.
Does the Minister not think it very strange that the principal should say there is no purpose to be served by my visiting the school as it is now decided to close it? Does he not think that it is the right of the Department to get this information also, or is the Minister not aware of what is happening? When will this House have a discussion on that report?
That is a separate question.
What are we going to do about it?
I have already explained to the Deputy——
Is the Minister aware of the fact that it is closing?
I am not aware officially or otherwise of the fact that the school is being closed.
Is it not strange that I am aware of it?
This may be so, but there is an obligation on the reverend managers to inform me officially of their intention to resign the certificate. I have not got that information and that is all I can tell the Deputy.
Would the Minister be good enough to look into this and see what is happening now that I have told him?
I will certainly look into it.