asked the Minister for Education the number of primary and post-primary schools that closed down in the Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown area of County Dublin from 1st January, 1973 to date; their names and locations; the number of staff and pupils affected; if it is envisaged that more schools will close; and the reasons for the anticipated closures.

The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the form of a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to have circulated with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

Number of Schools which closed down in the Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown area from 1st January, 1973 to date.

The Department have no information in relation to the possible closure of any other schools in the area.

Is this tabular statement being used as a smokescreen to prevent the information being given here? Are there so many facts and figures involved that they cannot be read out?

The tabular statement is not being used as a smokescreen.

Of course it is. Let the Parliamentary Secretary tell us the number of schools that have been closed down in 1974, 1975 and 1976.

Since 1973 there were three closures of primary schools and one closure of a secondary school and in all of these cases they were amalgamated with other schools. The pupils were accommodated there in most cases in much improved accommodation and with a better standard of education as a result of the improved accommodation.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary explain, for instance, why the Sacred Heart Convent in Monkstown, County Dublin, was closed down? That was a fine school from the point of view of accommodation and so on.

The Deputy is asking a rather specific question.

Is it envisaged that other schools in Dún Laoghaire will be closed down?

If the Deputy wishes to pose a question about the Sacred Heart Convent in Monkstown I suggest he put down a separate question.

That is part of the totality of my concern.

I have given the information requested by the Deputy. If he wants any more I suggest he put down a further question.

That is a very arrogant attitude the Parliamentary Secretary has adopted.

I am calling the next question.