asked the Minister for Education if he will consider retaining the Connagh school, Enniskeane, County Cork as a teaching unit for a further period as the facilities in Ballineen are considered inadequate.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork School.
16.
Arrangements are being made to provide a pre-fabricated classroom at Ballineen NS. The amalgamation of Connagh national school with Ballineen national school will not take place until this additional accommodation has been provided.
Am I to assume that this question will be deferred for some time at least?
I have indicated to the Deputy in reply to his question that the amalgamation will not take place until the accommodation has been provided. That was the Deputy's question.
I think the Parliamentary Secretary will want to be more specific than that.
It is hoped that the accommodation will be available soon after the summer vacation.
The Connagh national school is in a good state of repair and Ballineen, which is to cater for the additional numbers, is not. Would the Parliamentary Secretary not consider deferring this whole question for 12 months, which is the implication in my question? Can I get that assurance?
I do not see that that has anything to do with the reply to the Deputy's question in the first instance and, secondaly, in so far as the parents and manager of Connagh have actually agreed to the amalgamation I do not see any point in doing that. I will keep the Deputy informed of developments.
I am surprised that the Parliamentary Secretary is giving us a Widgery hand-off. One was enough. I hope the Parliamentary Secretary is not taking a headline from him.
When one gets a frontal attack from Deputy Coughlan one has to use some defensive mechanism.