asked the Minister for Education whether he intends to allow Barrowhouse National School, Athy, County Kildare to remain open.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Kildare School.
54.
Mr. R. Burke
It was decided in 1967 to replace the very old and unsuitable Ballyroe and Shanganamore (Barrowhouse) school buildings by a new central school to be erected at Ballyroe. It was expected that Shanganamore would have been closed as from the date of the commencement of the Christmas vacation, 1972. Arrangements for the staffing of the central school were made in 1972 and CIE were requested to arrange the transport service to the new school as from January, 1973. Because of a delay in completing the building, the date of the opening of the school was subsequently postponed to 1st July, 1973.
In the circumstances I am faced with a fait accompli and could not at this stage duplicate in Shanganamore the accommodation already provided at Ballyroe for the Shanganamore pupils nor could I upset the staffing arrangements already agreed upon for the central school.
Is it true there has been extra building in that area since the original decision was made and that there will be a substantial increase in the population in the near future?
Mr. R. Burke
The information available to me indicates that the number of pupils will be the same. Perhaps a specific question to my colleague might elicit the information the Deputy requires.
Which colleague— the man in charge of demography.