asked the Minister for Education if he has any proposals to prevent the closure of city centre schools.

20.

asked the Minister for Education if he will make a comprehensive statement on his policy in relation to the closure of schools in the centre of Dublin city.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together.

I could not have proposals as suggested in respect of the closure of secondary schools which are private institutions. In the case of the closure of a secondary school appropriate action is taken to find alternative school accommodation for the pupils deprived of places as a result of the closure. This action would include grant-aiding existing secondary schools to expand, providing additional accommodation in existing or proposed community or vocational schools, or making the relevant arrangements for the provision of additional schools.

I should like to ask the Minister to tell the House what consultations took place between his Department and the private school authority? What steps will he take in the Department to ensure that the school might be retained for use as a school under lay management in order that the sociological damage which could be done to the children due to the closure is avoided? That will also avoid the question of transport to other areas.

The Minister has no power to keep a school open. The school is a private institution and under the Constitution the people who own it are entitled to sell it as they see fit.

Is it the practice of the owners of secondary schools to notify the Minister for Education of their intention to close? Has the Minister received any notification in relation to any of the schools which we have discussed?

I submit that that is a separate question. I have had talks with some of the schools concerned. In the case of one of the schools mentioned a final decision to close it has not been taken and, consequently, my answers cannot be as categorical as they would were the decision taken already to close the school.

Would the Minister agree that the reason they are closing is because there is discrimination by way of grants to them? The balance between a community school and these schools is nearly two to one and in my view that is the reason they are closing.

The size of the grants has no bearing on decisions with regard to the closing of the schools.

Is the Minister aware of the serious sociological and educational damage that can be done to children because of school closures? Will he take every positive step to avoid such closures?

That does not arise on this question.

I have evidence which will show that the Minister's statement that the grant system has no bearing whatever is not factual in the city areas.

21.