asked the Minister for Education if he will sanction four additional classrooms and an assembly hall/gymnasium in respect of the vocational school in Arklow, County Wicklow.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Wicklow Schools.
77.
The County Wicklow Vocational Education Committee's request for four additional classrooms and a hall/gymnasium is being considered in the context of the recent survey carried out on vocational schools in the county. A decision in the matter will be expedited as much as possible.
Arising out of that reply, surely this report has been with the Minister for a long time now.
Is that a question?
Yes.
The report is a very complex one. It is being studied at the moment and, as the Deputy will appreciate, it raises many fundamental questions. It should also be appreciated that due care must be taken in coming to a decision on such matters.
I do not think the question of four extra classrooms and a hall-gymnasium would interfere——
A question, please, Deputy.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that the provision of the four extra classrooms and the hall-gymnasium would not interfere with the more general aspects of the report and, since the contractor is on the site, would he not agree this would mean a saving in finance and, finally on this matter——
The Deputy is asking a question in omnibus form.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that already the building in Wicklow is not sufficient to cater for the needs of the area?
I can tell the Deputy that a "decision in the matter will be expedited as much as possible".
78.
asked the Minister for Education whether it is intended to retain the senior cycle in Dunlavin vocational school, County Wicklow.
79.
asked the Minister for Education if he will make a statement on the future of Baltinglass vocational school, County Wicklow as a senior cycle unit.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 together.
The question of the retention of senior cycle classes in Baltinglass and Dunlavin vocational schools is at present under consideration in the context of the future provision to be made for second level education in the west Wicklow area generally. A communication in the matter will be addressed to the vocational education committee without avoidable delay.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that this is substantially the same answer as was given to me as early as three months ago?
I am not aware of what reply the Deputy got three months ago.
Is that information not in the brief?
It is always in the brief.
The Deputy is not allowed to repeat a question.
The Deputy will appreciate that what is in the brief is confidential to the Minister. As I have already stated, I was not aware of the question put down previously by the Deputy.
Fair enough. Might we expect a decision on either Baltinglass or Dunlavin before the middle of next month?
I have already stated that "A communication in the matter will be addressed to the vocational education committee without avoidable delay".
Could the Parliamentary Secretary state whether the Minister and his Department have already decided what the minimum number of pupils should be before a senior cycle is granted in any specific instance?
The answer to the question is no.
They have not decided.
The answer is no to the question posed by the Deputy.