§ Dr. O'DONOVANasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education when applicants for sanction to build a new non-provided school were first urged to provide two acres of ground as a minimum site; and is the provision of such a site area regarded as essential by the board?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMThe need for securing sites of adequate size for public elementary schools has been forced upon the board's notice, not only by developments in school planning and the increased requirements of physical training, but also by the desirability, in the interests of economy, of safeguarding the possibility of the enlargement of schools. The question assumed greater importance as the development of new housing areas led to a large increase in the number of proposals for new schools in those areas, where it would be particularly regrettable if the standard of school provision fell below that of the improved housing conditions provided. Since 1930 the board have felt it incumbent upon them to urge upon all bodies proposing to provide new public elementary schools the very great desirability of securing sites of not less than two acres in order to meet the considerations mentioned above. But the board have not required a site of two acres as a minimum, and in the case particularly of built-up areas, and where land is very expensive, the board have accepted sites of a smaller extent.
§ Dr. O'DONOVANasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education in how many cases has sanction been withheld by his board to applications to build all-age new non-provided schools; and how many sanctions have been given to build such schools?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMSince 21st July, 1931, the board have considered 23 proposals for the provision of new all-age non-provided public elementary schools. Of these proposals eight were disallowed, and five allowed in part only (four as 1019W schools for juniors and infants only, and one as a school for seniors only); the remaining 10 were allowed as all-age schools.