asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the opposition being expressed by the Glenroe Parish Council and the parents of the children attending Ballyorgan national school, County Limerick to the proposed closure of that school.
76.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Limerick School.
75.
asked the Minister for Education if application has been made to his Department for grants in respect of the renovation of Ballyorgan national school, County Limerick; and the position with regard to the availability of such grants.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 76 together.
Ballyorgan national school is a two-teacher school with an enrolment of 44 pupils.
As far back as 1967 a proposal by my Department that Ballyorgan and the neighbouring Glenroe school be amalgamated in an enlarged and improved school building at Glenroe was agreed to by the then manager. There has been delay, however, in carrying out the adaptation scheme at Glenroe to enable amalgamation to be effected.
I understand that at a recent meeting of Ballyorgan parents there was general agreement that the Ballyorgan school be retained and a scheme of improvements carried out to the building. If that is what the parents wish, then no further action on the part of my Department will be taken towards the closure of Ballyorgan school.
Having reviewed the situation, I am fully satisfied that the amalgamation of these schools to form a larger school unit would be to the educational advantage of the children concerned. I trust that the parents will, on reflection, come to accept the proposals.
On the question of making grants available for renovation of Ballyorgan school building, I have already indicated in my Estimate speech for the financial year 1973-74 that in ordinary circumstances no further one-teacher or two-teacher schools will be built either in replacement of existing schools or as new schools. Neither will State grants be made for extensive reconstruction or improvement of such small schools.