asked the Minister for Education his plans for Scoil Ard Mhuire which is lying idle for 12 months, and bearing in mind that there is a backlog of boys under 16 years of age waiting to get into Trinity House.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Scoil Ard Mhuire.
27.
No decision has yet been taken with regard to the future use of the Scoil Ard Mhuire premises. These premises are not secure and would not be suitable for the accommodation of the category of juvenile offender referred by the courts to Trinity House, where it is possible to provide a suitable programme for them in a secure environment.
My question asked about the plans for Scoil Ard Mhuire which has been lying idle for 12 months. What educational plans, or what plans if any, have been made to use this building?
The school was closed on 31 August 1985 and at that time the Department gave a commitment that the buildings would not be used as an annexe to Trinity House. They further stated that they had no plans to reopen the school as a child care institution. Since then, efforts have been in train to find a new owner but no Government Department have yet formally indicated interest in the premises. At an informal level the Department of Justice appeared to be interested at one stage but there was no follow through. No final decision has been taken with regard to its future educational use in that no new owner has yet been found.
I put it to the Minister that the decision to close Scoil Ard Mhuire was the wrong one to make and with hindsight it could be viewed as detrimental to the type of young persons who received guidance and education, and who were given a chance in life because they were in Scoil Ard Mhuire. In view of the great number of young people we read about who are sleeping rough and who come from unsatisfactory homes without any steadying influence, may I suggest that the Minister and the Department reopen this school because the problems have not disappeared? In fact, the problems facing disaffected young people have increased dramatically. A very valuable use could be put to that——
The Deputy is making a speech.
I know I am but——
The Deputy is wound up.
There are young people who need guidance, education and an interest in life and Scoil Ard Mhuire provided that. I suggest that this school be reopened and these young people be given a direction in life.
The Deputy is aware of the difficulties encountered with regard to the amalgamation of the school. The Department closed Scoil Ard Mhuire for two reasons. First, the number of referrals to this school had declined sharply over the last few years of its existence and there had seldom been more than 30 to 35 boys resident. It was also noted that the cost of keeping a boy in residence at Scoil Ard Mhuire was far higher than at the other open special schools at Finglas and Clonmel. Second, there is an increasing trend towards dealing with the problems of delinquency at local level in small community based projects. This trend was reflected in the Department's decision in the summer of 1985 to continue with the new encounter projects. As the Deputy is aware, these projects had operated on a pilot basis since 1977 and it was felt that their continuance would lead to a reduction in the number of children requiring residential care. It was also felt that there is sufficient accommodation for the type of person who would be referred to Scoil Ard Mhuire available in other centres.
Question No. 28.
May I——
I am getting in before the Deputy because the best way to prevent her asking more supplementary question is not to let her start.
There was a forced rundown of the referrals purposely——
I cannot say if that is so, but the Department are aware that sufficient alternative accommodation is available for that category of person.