A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, thank you for allowing me to raise this very important question of the closure of Tourmakeady all-Irish secondary school in the west Mayo Gaeltacht. It is one more educational closure bombshell which has struck at the very heart of the Mayo Gaeltacht and at all those who have a love of the Irish language. Caithfidh mé a rá gur baineadh preab mór as mhuintir Mhaigh Eo agus muintir na tíre uile nuair a fuair siad an droch scéal maidin inné, nuair a fógraíodh é do na mná rialta nach mbeadh siad ábalta leanúint ar aghaidh leis on scoil i dTuar Mhic Eide.
This was a shock announcement to all concerned and interested in the Irish language throughout the country, but especially in the Gaeltachtaí in the west. It was incredible news to give to any teaching team at 11 o'clock in the morning, completely unexpected. One must think of the considerable sums of money put into that school for reconstruction in the past year or two. This made the closure all the more incredible.
It has to be stated also that the Minister for Education and, indeed, all who have an interest in the Irish language, have been shocked by this announcement. It is a thrust against the very heart of the language revival because of the great standards of Irish that have been attained in Tourmakeady secondary school and the magnificent tradition which has existed there for half a century or more, for the protection and development of the Irish language. There are many questions that one could ask, but we have to express our horror and shock at this terrible bombshell that has been dropped on the Tourmakeady district, the people of Mayo and, in particular, the students, parents and all those who, over the years, have willingly given their assistance and support to this school.
We would like to ask — and it is important for us to know this — when exactly did the Department of Education know of the closure that was to take place and what reaction did the Minister and his Department give to the authorities if and when they were informed of the closure? What exactly is the Department's interest at this time in the buildings and the institution known as the Tourmakeady all-Irish secondary school? What will the Minister for Education do to try to alter the decision announced yesterday by the Sisters of Mercy to the staff in so far as the closure and the phasing out of the school are concerned? Will he guarantee to seek what means are available to him to try to keep the college open? We make no apology at all for raising this matter and expressing our great disappointment and dismay that the Sisters of Mercy feel it necessary to curtail their activity in the school. We also wish to know what the Department of Education, as the real custodian of the school and of the protection of the Irish language propose to do to save the day for this very worthy educational institution.
