asked the Minister for Education the proposals he has to alleviate the severe overcrowding in Drumkeen national school, County Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Schools.
1.
The Commissioners of Public Works have been asked to furnish a report on the feasibility of adapting and extending the existing Drumkeen national school, County Donegal to provide additional accommodation as an alternative to the erection of an entirely new school. It is understood that temporary accommodation is available in the parish hall to cater for the appointment of an extra teacher and class. The reverend chairman has been asked to arrange to have some works carried out to make the accommodation in the parish hall suitable for temporary school purposes.
Is the Minister and his Department aware of how unsuitable is the parish hall that is proposed to be used for this purpose? Is the Minister further aware that at the time of the closing of an adjoining school, and as a result of a strike which arose from the proposed closure, a definite promise was made to the pupils who would go to Drumkeen national school that if they came to Drumkeen and called off their strike against the closure of the other school, additional suitable acommodation would be provided forthwith, even by way of a pre-fab and that nothing has since been done? This proposed arrangement in the parish hall is totally unsuitable. It cannot be made suitable and it is too far removed from the school to be regarded as part of the school.
I know that a new school was promised and the manager at that time was asked to provide a site. He was unable to procure one. He did not communicate with my Department since about the availability of a site. It is understood that there is a site close to the existing school but it is not in the possession of the manager, the Department or the Board of Works at this stage. If that is available and it is suitable the erection of a new school or of an extension to the existing school can go ahead. The site is next door to the existing school. It is not known whether it is available or not, although it would be suitable. The manager has been asked to investigate that possibility. I understand that the parish hall is not suitable but that it can be made suitable. It is the best temporary solution to the problem.
Would the Minister agree that, irrespective of what its structural condition may be, it is not suitable? Even if it were made suitable, would the Minister consider a class or classes being held as part of the national school two or three hundred yards away from the main school as suitable?
It would be better if everything were in the one building but as temporary accommodation it would be suitable, and it could be made acceptable to the students and the teachers. I agree that the long-term solution would be the erection of a new school.
Question No. 2.
Can I further ask the Minister——
One final question Deputy, please.
Would the Minister seriously consider the alternative, as a temporary arrangement, of the provision of a pre-fab on the school site? It would probably be found to be no more costly and certainly would be much more suitable. I agree with the Minister that the school needs renewal, not extension. Will the Minister pursue the availability or otherwise of the site which I think he has in mind beside the new church? My information is that that site will be available and it would be the ideal place for the new school. A pre-fab at the existing school would be far in advance of what is proposed at the moment.
This solution was suggested sometime last year by Deputy Paddy Harte.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.
I feel that I should place as much information as possible before the House. Deputy Harte at that time said that that pre-fab was available from Raphoe national school. My Department undertook to make a grant available for the shifting of this pre-fab from Raphoe to Drumkeen. We heard nothing about it since and I do not know if it is still available.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Blaney will realise that we have been quite a long time on this question. I want to go on to other questions.
(Interruptions.)
Regardless of Deputy Harte's good offices in this matter which are not bearing fruit, would the Minister investigate what I have said? An absolute promise was made to induce a strike to be broken so as to bring the children to the Drumkeen school to provide a pre-fab. Where is that promise? Who made it? Was it false when it was made? Where does Deputy Paddy Harte come into this in offering the pre-fab as a solution when it was offered to the people before they went to him, before they broke their strike and went to the school?
The Department will be prepared to consider the question of a grant towards the cost of transferring any available pre-fab to Drumkeen provided such cost were reasonable. That is the normal condition in cases such as this. I believe from another source that pre-fabs are not that readily available now. Because of that the parish hall is being used.
Next question, please.
I will certainly try to get the pre-fab.