Vol. 439 No. 5
7 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education the criteria she uses in deciding the type of second level school which should be built on a green field site; and whether she consults with the parents involved to establish their wishes.
I welcome Deputy McGrath to the Front Bench as Education Spokesperson. Although we may differ on Education matters, we share a common concern about the problems.
Where a decision has to be taken on the type of management structure to be applied to a new post-primary school erected in an area which previously did not have such a school the features of each particular case are taken into account.
The wishes of parents of the area in question form one such feature for consideration. Their views will normally be communicated to me, as Minister, through a local committee of parents and education bodies such as the vocational education committee.
Where there are conflicting views on what represents the best and most appropriate type of management for a green-field school it rests with me as Minister to take the final decision.
The main criteria which I and my Department use in deciding on the management structures for green-field second-level schools are:— the requirement that the school be capable of providing a comprehensive curriculum with suitable subject choices for a wide range of pupil aptitudes, abilities and choices; the need for the school to be open to all the children of the community and to be capable of gaining the support of a wide spectrum of the community it proposes to serve, irrespective of religious denomination, social class or financial means; the desirability that the board of management should, as far as possible, be fully representative of educational, religious, parent and teacher interests; the requirement that, given the considerable expenditure of public moneys on the capital and current costs of a green-field school, I, as Minister, must be satisfied that those involved in running the school are ultimately accountable to me through my Department as regards expenditure of State funds and for the implementation of educational policy in the widest sense; the need for a green-field school, catering as it does for rapidly developing urban areas, to be flexible in its ability to adapt to changing needs in the educational area and to respond to community needs as regards, for example, the provision of an adult education programme; the desirability that such a school should, subject to the overriding claims of the school itself, be available for community use outside school hours.
I thank the Minister for her good wishes and hope we can work together for the betterment of our young people.
On the Minister's reply, is it Government policy, as stated on radio by her colleague, Deputy Brian Fitzgerald, that any new second level school will be a community college? Will the Minister give a straight "yes" or "no" answer to that question?
I outlined in my reply the main criteria on which I will base my decision in regard to any new green field sites for second level schools. At the end of the day the decision in regard to such schools rests with me.
I am disappointed the Minister is not prepared to say whether it is Government policy that any new second level school will be a community college. She is fudging the issue. Surely the Minister can say whether that is Government policy. Did the officials in the Minister's Department agree that a voluntary secondary school could be built in Dunboyne, County Meath? The Minister indicated that the wishes of the parents in any locality were very important in any future decision about a school. What consultations did she have with the parents in the Dunboyne area in deciding that a community college should be built there?
Reference to officials should be avoided if possible. The Minister is responsible.
I reiterate that the decision at the end of the day rests with me. To put in context the history of voluntary secondary schools, the last time a voluntary secondary school was erected on a green field site was in 1981 and that was in Celbridge under the Salesian Order. Since then two community colleges have been erected in County Kildare. The opinions of parents and the report of the vocational education committee are important in making a decision. In regard to the area to which the Deputy referred, at all times the main concern was to have a school erected. I was told that the body we are putting in charge is a secondary issue. Parents are also concerned that first year students should be able to attend the school in September 1994, prior to the completion of the school. The lobby for a school in Dunboyne was met with an announcement in regard to a number of school building programmes which included a community college for Dunboyne. My officials and I are examining the possibility of providing classes for first year pupils in Dunboyne in September 1994 and members of the Meath Vocational Education Committee are holding talks with officials of my Department so that we can respond to the strong demand in the area, first, for the construction of a school and, second to allow first year pupils to register prior to the completion of the building.
Deputy McGrath rose.
I am sorry, Deputy, we cannot remain unduly long on any one question as it would be to the disadvantage of Members who tabled other questions. I will allow a brief question.
This is an important issue. To whom did the Minister speak in the Dunboyne area about this school? She did not clarify with whom she met or whose opinion she sought. I am sure the Minister is aware that a public meeting in that area was attended by hundreds of parents, 95 per cent whom expressed dissatisfaction with the Minister's decision. I would remind the Minister of what was contained in the Labour Party manifesto——
The Deputy should put a question to the Minister.
Does the Minister recall the commitment in the Labour Party manifesto to involve parents in any decisions relating to their children's education? Does the Minister recall the commitment in the Programme for Competitiveness and Work in regard to parents playing a major role in that regard?
The Deputy has had fair innings on this question.
Will the Minister answer my question? She is hedging the issue.
The Minister makes the decision. I spoke to public representatives, members of the vocational education committee and to some parents——
Very few.
I spoke to parents who approached me.
The Minister should consult them, not speak to them.
I have made my decision, not only in relation to a community college in Dunboyne but to community colleges in Cahirciveen, Askeaton, Rathkeale, Boyle, Roscrea and Cahir.
What about Castleknock?
The Deputy should not intervene at this stage.
Many other communities are seeking the building of schools under the second level school programme. Dunboyne was included in my announcement under that programme. I am aware of the anxiety in regard to the school in Dunboyne and I am pursuing with great enthusiasm a response to meet the demands of the people in that area to enable students to register for first year classes in 1994. The parents of children in their final year at primary school contacted me to welcome my response to the matter. The details in regard to first year classes will be available as soon as possible.
The Minister has not even obtained a site yet.
With whom is the Minister consulting in Castleknock?
I have advised Deputy Currie that he should not intervene. Only Members who table questions at this time may ask supplementaries and I thought the Deputy understood that.
