asked the Minister for Education if he will make a further statement on the proposed transfer of the metalwork teachers training course from Ringsend, Dublin, to Bolton Street Vocational School.
45.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Metalwork Training Course.
44.
asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the fact that all necessary facilities for the metalwork teachers' training course with a single peripheral exception are available at Ringsend, Dublin, and that the most important requirements for such a course are not available at Bolton Street, he will arrange for this course to be continued at Ringsend.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Question Nos. 44 and 45 together.
I am satisfied that the accommodation in Ringsend is unsuitable and inadequate for modern teacher training needs. Suitable accommodation is available in Bolton Street and the arrangements for the transfer of the course to there are proceeding satisfactorily.
Is the Minister aware that, when this matter was gone into by his Department, it was discovered that all the facilities alleged by the Department to be missing in Ringsend, not only existed in Ringsend but had been installed by another branch of his Department relatively recently? Apart from one peripheral requirement, which was not significant, all the requirements necessary are present in Ringsend. Is this a case of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing and, in these circumstances, would the Minister reconsider the matter because it is causing great unrest among the staff in Ringsend? This move is not to the advantage of the course and simply seems to be a case of covering up the mistake made by the Department.
The Deputy has no right to make that allegation.
Is it not the case that there is no room in Bolton Street—that has been stated to the authorities—and is it not also the case that Ringsend has all the facilities necessary?
The whole question of transfer was examined in all its aspects by the Department's inspectors in conjunction with the chief executive officer of the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee and they were more than satisfied that the transfer of the course to Bolton Street was in the interests of the students and their training.
Who was satisfied?
The officers of my Department and the chief executive officer of the City of Dublin Vocational Educational Committee.
What about the teachers and the students in Ringsend? They do not matter at all.
It is the students who matter and that is why the transfer is being made.
Does the Minister accept that the vocational teachers association, which he met on this particular dispute, completely refuted the alleged lack of accommodation and facilities in Ringsend and the arguments put up by the Department's officials were completely refuted and it is now clear, in fact, that a bad decision was made and the matter should, therefore, be reviewed?
My Department is quite satisfied that the facilities available in Bolton Street are much better than they are in Ringsend. We must concern ourselves with the students and with their training.
Surely the Minister is aware that the facilities in Ringsend were in use for many years that no complaints were made in any year about the inadequacy of the facilities and, in fact, the Department on many occasions complimented the principal and the staff in Ringsend on the excellent facilities available there. This seems to be a departmental decision which was taken without consultation with the staff and the Department's inspectors do not want to climb down. They should climb down.
That is not correct.
Could the Minister say precisely what facilities are missing in Ringsend and what facilities are available in Bolton Street?
Is it not true that we have been pressing for a new school in Ringsend——
Hear, hear. And we are not getting it either.
This is the start of the new school, the change of pupils from Ringsend to Bolton Street.
This is the wonderful Fianna Fáil idea and this will please the people in Ringsend.
It will certainly enable the plans for the rebuilding of the vocational school there to be expedited.
Will the Minister answer my question? What facilities are missing in Ringsend?
I have pointed out that the facilities are better in Bolton Street.
What facilities are missing in Ringsend? What are they? The Minister does not know what facilities are missing. I have established that anyway.