Vol. 264 No. 2
andDr. Cruise-O'Brien asked the Minister for Education whether his Department has carried out a survey on the question of parental preferences for primary schools in the areas formerly served by the Meenaleck and Rannafast national schools, County Donegal; whether he is aware of any other survey that has been carried out; and on which survey he has based his decision to re-open Rannafast national school.
39.
andDr. Cruise-O'Brien asked the Minister for Education the number of parents who signified their willingness to his Department to accept a three-teacher national school at Rannafast, County Donegal.
40.
andDr. Cruise-O'Brien asked the Minister for Education the number of parents who indicated to his Department that they would prefer to continue sending their children to Annagry, County Donegal than to send them to a three-teacher school at Rannafast.
41.
andDr. Cruise-O'Brien asked the Minister for Education if he will state the average current attendance, as distinct from enrolment, at Rannafast national school, County Donegal; how far this falls short of the normal entitlement for a three-teacher national school; and when he expects attendance to reach the appropriate figure.
42.
andDr. Cruise-O'Brien asked the Minister for Education whether the national school at Rannafast, County Donegal can remain open indefinitely with less than the normal complement of pupils for a three-teacher school; and, if so, whether he will review the position of other Gaeltacht schools which have been closed because of their low enrolment and attendance figures.
43.
andDr. Cruise-O'Brien asked the Minister for Education whether monoglot English-speaking children, or Irish-speaking children who did not reside in the Rannafast or Meenaleck, County Donegal areas prior to the closure of the two schools there, are now attending the re-opened Rannafast school; and if so, if he will state the number of such children.
With your permission a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 to 43 together.
A survey was carried out by my Department. Subsequently 36 of the 38 parents concerned signified in writing that they wished to have Rannafast school re-opened as a three-teacher school. I have no knowledge of any other survey. The enrolment at the Rannafast school is 67 and the number of pupils required for the retention of three teachers in such a school is 65. On this basis no question of reviewing the position in other Gaeltacht schools which have been closed arises. Two of the children attending Rannafast school are on Gael Linn scholarships. These children would have been tested as to their proficiency in Irish before having been awarded the scholarships and the appellation monoglot English speakers would not apply to them.
44.
asked the Minister for Education if he will state the policy of his Department relating to post-primary education in the West Donegal area, with particular reference to the parish of Gweedore.
It is proposed to establish a community school in this area. The exact location of the school has yet to be decided.
