asked the Minister for Education if State grants will be given to keep Garbally and Ballinruane national schools, County Galway, in suitable repair; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - County Galway Schools.
31.
Mr. Kitt
The decision to continue these two small schools as separate schools for a further period is subject to the condition that the school buildings be kept in suitable repair without the aid of State grants. This is in keeping with the policy of school amalgamations, as set out in the statement circulated with the Official Report of the Dáil Debates on 12th December, 1974.
32.
asked the Minister for Education if he will reconsider his Department's plan to close the national school at Northampton, Kinvara, County Galway, which is contrary to the wishes of the parents.
As I indicated in my reply to a question from the Deputy on 30th October, my Department consider that, as a long-term aim for improving school facilities in the area, the centralisation of the two-teacher Northampton and Dorrus schools in an extended school in Kinvara would be desirable. It has, however, been agreed, in deference to the wishes of the parents, to defer the question of amalgamation for the present.
Question No. 33 postponed.