asked the Minister for Education the steps he intends to take to provide a secondary coeducational school in Balla, County Mayo.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo School.
48.
It is not a matter for me but primarily for the local sponsors to take steps towards the provision of a secondary school.
In the case of Balla and Ballinafad it is my Department's view that the needs of these areas can be served adequately in adjacent second-level centres such as Castlebar, Claremorris, Kiltimagh and Ballinrobe.
I am aware that there is a local desire that Balla should continue to have a secondary school. In view of this local desire I have told the sponsors of a proposal to continue the existing girls' secondary school in Balla as a coeducational secondary school that I am favourably disposed to their proposal. If the proposal is implemented, my Department will, in addition to payment of incremental salaries to the authorised quota of teachers, pay capitation and free education grants in respect of pupils enrolled in the school. Any application for grants towards the cost of providing additional accommodation in the school will be considered on its merits.
Will the Minister be able to make grants available to the committee for the purpose of adapting domitories to classrooms and so on?
All these requests will be considered on their merit and there is no reason why, if my regulations are met, requests cannot be satisfied.
May I add that the manager and the Archbishop, together with the people of Balla and of the catchment area, have the greatest confidence in the Minister in regard to the sanctioning of this building? The Minister has been there and has promised to do whatever he can to help in the situation.
Maith an buachaill.
Having regard to the heavy financial burden on the community—we note that the very praiseworthy sum of £14,000 has been raised already—would the Minister consider reverting to the loans scheme of the Department so that the committee might get this school going? This is the system which was discontinued last year.
The Deputy is raising another matter now.
We are trying to help.