asked the Minister for Education whether a music room, gymnasium and dressing facilities will be provided in the new community school at Clifden, County Galway; and, if not, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway Schools.
67.
The building at present under construction at Clifden represents a phase of development intended to cater for up to 350 students. A music room is among the facilities to be considered when a further phase of development is required. The provision of a gymnasium and ancillary facilities will also be considered at that stage.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there is considerable disappointment and, indeed, to a certain extent, amazement among the parents and the teachers in this new community school at the absence of any dressing facilities for pupils participating in physical recreation? I would have thought the Parliamentary Secretary would have made sure that such facilities were provided in such new schools and would have had a particular interest in the matter.
Indeed, the current second level enrolment at Clifden is 248 students. As I stated, the building at present under construction represents a phase of development intended to cater for up to 350 students. The Deputy will appreciate that the Department are providing these physical recreational facilities on a phased basis in the light of the capital which is available, which is not by any means unlimited. Therefore, priority must be given to those schools with the relatively larger enrolment. While the Deputy would be particularly concerned about the situation in Clifden he would also appreciate the wisdom of that overall policy.
How does the Parliamentary Secretary imagine any programme of physical education can be carried out in this school where there is not provided even the most elementary dressingroom facilities for the pupils? This is a mixed school.
I think the Deputy will appreciate that this is a problem which is encountered in many places as well as Clifden. The Department are endeavouring to eliminate that problem but must do so on a phased basis, containing priorities, and giving highest priority to the larger schools with the largest enrolments.
They can undress under the bushes in Clifden because they are getting no priority.
Please let us have order at Question Time.
68.
asked the Minister for Education if it is intended to carry out repairs to Moyard national school, Connemara, County Galway.
69.
asked the Minister for Education if he will sanction the appointment of a second teacher at Moyard national school, Connemara, County Galway.
70.
asked the Minister for Education if he will make a statement on the future of Moyard national school, Connemara, County Galway.
With the permission of the Ceann Chomhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 68, 69 and 70 together.
The number of children attending Moyard school is not sufficient for the appointment of a second teacher and the indications are that the numbers will continue to decrease.
The question of the amalgamation of the school with another school in the parish has been under consideration for some time. My Department's district inspector has had three meetings with the parents to discuss the proposals and hear their views. My understanding is that the parents do not favour the continuance of Moyard as a one-teacher school, but have different preferences as to the school which their children should attend on the closing of Moyard.
I am fully satisfied that the amalgamation of Moyard school with Letterfrack school in the same parish would be to the educational advantage of the pupils.
My Department, accordingly, are in correspondence with the Reverend Manager regarding the transport arrangements to be made for the Moyard pupils on the closing of that school and also the provision of additional accommodation at Letterfrack school.
Do I take it from the Parliamentary Secretary's reply that it is now the official policy to close Moyard school and to provide transport to Letterfrack school? Is that a sum-up of what the Parliamentary Secretary said?
I think that is a fair inference from the reply which has been given.
71.
asked the Minister for Education when a contract in respect of an extension to Briarhill national school, Galway will be sanctioned.
I understand from the Commissioners of Public Works that they hope to be in a position to place a contract in this case very soon.
Did the Parliamentary Secretary say that the contract would be given out fairly soon?
It is understood that the Office of Public Works are now awaiting the lodgment by the manager of the local contribution towards the cost of the extension. When the local contribution has been received it will be possible to sanction a tender and place a contract.
Could I inform the Parliamentary Secretary that the local contribution was paid some weeks ago?
I am interested to hear that. That information is not available to me at this stage but I shall make investigations in the light of what the Deputy has said.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary communicate with me, having made that investigation?
I will ask that the Deputy be communicated with.
72.
asked the Minister for Education when work will commence on the building of a new national school at Recess, County Galway.
73.
asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the conditions prevailing at Ballinafad national school, Galway; and if he will make a statement on the future of this school.
74.
asked the Minister for Education if he intends to close the national school at Derryvoreeda, Recess, County Galway; and if he will make a statement in the matter.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 73 and 74 together.
As the Deputy is aware, the decision to build a new central school in Recess, and to amalgamate therein the existing non-Gaeltacht school of Ballinafad and the existing Fíor-Ghaeltacht school of Derryvoreeda, was taken before I assumed office as Minister. I became aware of that decision as a result of a Parliamentary Question put to me on 28 March, 1974, as to whether I intended to close the Derryvoreeda school.
In replying to that question I said that I had given instructions that the matter be fully reconsidered with a view to arriving at some suitable arrangement which would not involve the abolition of a Fíor-Ghaeltacht school. This reconsideration is under way and will be brought to a conclusion as soon as possible.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary give an assurance to the parents in the Fíor-Ghaeltacht that their school will not close? Could he also give an assurance to the parents of the children attending the Ballinafad school that the construction of the new school will proceed immediately? I understand the instruction came from the Minister to cease work on the new school at Ballinafad. I do not know if it was started but the contractor was told not to proceed. Both sets of parents are now totally dissatisfied.
While I would very much like to be able to give assurances such as those the Deputy has requested I should say it would be premature for me to do so when I have indicated that the Minister has given instructions that this matter be wholly considered. This reconsideration is not yet complete. Therefore, I think we should await the result of that reconsideration before saying anything further in the matter.