asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the overcrowded conditions obtaining in the Christian Brothers Secondary School, Youghal, County Cork; and if he has any proposals to alleviate this situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork School.
14.
In response to a recent application from the manager of the Christian Brothers Secondary School, Youghal, authorisation is being given for the erection of new premises on a site adjacent to the vocational school.
Arising from the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, which is far from satisfactory, is he aware that it is not in accordance with the statement by Deputy Hegarty as reported in yesterday's Cork Examiner? Furthermore, would he inform the House if it is the policy and practice of his Department to leak in advance the answers to questions which are put down here by both Deputy Cronin and myself?
It has happened five times before yesterday.
The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.
That is entirely unsatisfactory.
It is typical of the cheap cosmetic politics of you and your Department and the Government.
The trouble is that progress is being made in education and the Deputies opposite do not like it.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the chaos that exists in the Christian Brothers School in Youghal and that the situation will be intolerable in the new term when 30 or 40 new students will go in there?
I am aware that on 12th May, 1965, the Christian Brothers purchased a two acre site adjacent to the existing school and that there are plans for the building of a new secondary school on that site to be run by the Christian Brothers. The matter is being dealt with reasonably expeditiously.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that on six occasions in the last two months Deputy Hegarty has been able to give advance answers to questions tabled by Fianna Fáil Deputies——
That does not arise from the question.
Perhaps Deputy Hegarty would do his work for the people who put him here and not be acting the parasite.
That does not arise——
You are the arbitrator in matters of procedure and propriety in this House——
The Chair is not responsible for the answers given in the House.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary agree that the Parliamentary Secretary and the Minister have been mouthing palliatives as far as secondary school education is concerned? Is it not a question of "live horse and you will get grass", but the grass is not forthcoming? Is it not about time the Parliamentary Secretary and the Minister faced up to the dire situation that we find ourselves in as far as secondary education is concerned? We have had two and a half years of complete mismanagement in the field of education.