andMr. Callanan asked the Minister for Education if he will reconsider his decision to close the two-teacher national school at Moyglass, County Galway, in view of the expressed wishes of the parents in the area to maintain the present position of the school.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway School.
34.
Mr. R. Burke
I am arranging, in consultation with the reverend manager of Moyglass National School, to have a senior inspector of my Department visit the area and meet parents of children attending the school to discuss the proposals for its amalgamation with Ballinakill National School. I shall review the situation following that discussion.
Is the Minister aware that in a written reply he said he was closing the school? Is he also aware that at a meeting the parents and the manager said they did not want the school closed? I would remind the Minister that there are 33 pupils on the roll at the moment and there will be more, and he did open a school with about eight pupils.
Mr. R. Burke
Further representations were made to me in the matter by the Deputy's colleague in that constituency, Deputy Mrs. Hogan O'Higgins, as a result of consultations with whom I have sent an inspector to review the situation.
Do I gather the Minister is reconsidering the decision to close the Moyglass school?
Mr. R. Burke
When I receive the report of the inspector, I shall review the situation.
The Minister is aware that the manager, as well as the parents, is anxious to keep the school open?
Mr. R. Burke
Yes. The Deputy will be aware that I made a change of direction in this whole area on June 11th and I would be hopeful that we can arrive at a pleasing solution to the situation.
Since June 11th the Minister sent me a reply that he would let me know what he was doing in the matter.
Mr. R. Burke
I shall let the Deputy know what my decision will be in due course.
Deputy Mrs. Hogan O'Higgins was not present at the meeting of the parents and the manager.
We cannot have statements. I am trying as best I can to assist the Deputy to elicit information.
Would the Minister agree that the people of Galway can be considered as second-grade citizens in contrast to the people of Monaghan where the Minister did retain a school? Would it be because of an impending by-election in Monaghan?
Mr. R. Burke
I do not consider that any area of the country is a second-class area, and the other decision was not made in view of any by-election.
The Minister has said he made a change in direction in this whole area on June 11th. To what precisely is the Minister referring?
Mr. R. Burke
I spoke on the Adjournment at length on this and I would refer the Deputy to my reply.
This is broadening the subject matter altogether.
Could I ask the Minister to say precisely to what he was referring, to what speech on what occasion when he says he made a change in direction?
Mr. R. Burke
To the Adjournment debate on the question raised by Deputy Robert Molloy, replied to by me on June 13th.
There is no reference to the speech made by the Secretary of the Department in Athlone.
Has the Minister any programme or criteria in relation to opening or closing schools? The country does not know at the moment what the Minister's policy is in this connection.
Mr. R. Burke
The country is aware that the closure of two-teacher schools is no longer an automatic process and that consultation with all interests involved takes place from now on.
In view of the unsatisfactory reply, I wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with Deputy Loughnane.