asked the Minister for Education the proposals put forward by his Department concerning the future of post-primary education in Fermoy, County Cork; the extent of consultation with the respective authorities of the vocational school, the CBS and St. Colman's College to date; and, in the light of recent views expressed by those administrations, if further consultations are intended.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Post-Primary Education.
34.
At a meeting in Fermoy on the 17th February, 1972, officials from my Department put the following proposals before the school authorities involved for their consideration.
(1) That the Christian Brothers School and Coláiste Cholmáin amalgamate as one post-primary school catering for boys up to leaving certificate level, the new amalgamated school to be on the campus of Coláiste Cholmáin.
(2) That the vocational school continue as a junior school, up to intermediate certificate, with girls transferring to the Loreto College and boys transferring to Coláiste Cholmáin for their senior cycle courses.
(3) That the County Cork Vocational Education Committee participate in the provision of the applied science group of subjects in the senior cycle in the amalgamated boy's school.
The school authorities agreed to consider the above proposals but they have not yet communicated their views on them to my Department.
Can the Minister say when he expects to receive a decision? Is he not aware that there have been meetings at Fermoy and that the Christian Brothers there, the authorities of the diocesan college and, indeed, the members of the vocational education committee seem to have rejected the Departmental proposals?
That is not so.
Again, the Deputy is misinformed. He should stick to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.
I am not misinformed. Is the Minister hopeful that he may be able to resolve the conflict between the authorities and his Department?
The fact is that the proposals have not been rejected but I would hope to have another meeting in relation to this matter.