Vol. 311 No. 6
asked the Minister for Education if a standard for the heating of national schools has been agreed by his Department with the INTO; and, if so, the date of signature, date of operation, text and method of promulgation and enforcement of the agreement.
212.
asked the Minister for Education if he has agreed standards for the lighting, ventilation, cleaning and sanitation of national schools with the INTO; when the agreement was signed; when it came into operation; when and how it was promulgated; and how and by whom it is being enforced.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 212 together.
Rule 59 of the Rules for National Schools provides that it is the duty of the manager of a national school to arrange that the school is adequately furnished and kept in proper structural and decorative condition, that the schoolrooms are swept and dusted every day, that at intervals the floors are washed and the rooms disinfected, that the school is adequately heated and properly lighted and ventilated, and that the toilets are regularly cleansed and maintained in a sanitary condition. Teachers are expected to co-operate with managers in seeing that the work connected with the heating and cleaning of the schools, including the maintenance of the toilets in a sanitary condition, is effectively performed.
Officials of my Department are at present engaged in discussions with representatives of the management authorities and of teachers on the question of introducing procedures to be followed in connection with the heating of national schools and to meet circumstances in which the heating of a school building falls below an acceptable minimum.
No formal agreements of the type mentioned in the Deputy's questions have been drawn up.
