asked the Minister for Education if he will state what arrangements are being made to deal with the overcrowding reported on by the Department's Inspectors in Killoran N.S., Coolaney, Co. Sligo.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - KILLORAN NATIONAL SCHOOL (COUNTY SLIGO).
In July, 1923, a grant of £326 13s. 4d. on an estimated expenditure of £490 was sanctioned towards the cost of erecting a class-room to provide additional accommodation for 32 children in the case of Killoran National School. This grant was notified to the Manager and the Board of Works on 17th July, 1923.
In reply to a communication from the Department of Education as to the delay in utilising this grant the Manager stated, on 22nd January, 1925, that he found difficulty in providing the local contribution, and he asked that the classroom be erected in a different position to that proposed by the Board of Works, as this would reduce the cost of the work. The matter having been brought under the notice of the Board of Works, that Department stated that the plan suggested by the Manager would necessitate the erection of a second porch and the cost of this work would exceed the cost of trunking around the classroom as already designed; they, therefore, considered that the original plan should be adhered to. The observations of the Board of Works were conveyed to the Manager, who, however, renewed his application for an alteration in the plan and stated that his suggestion would be more economical and as suitable as the plan proposed by the Board of Works, that he had the site examined by an experienced builder and that in the opinion of the latter the cost of trunking would run very high, probably to £70 or £80 and that there is no necessity for a second porch.
The Board of Works are now being asked for their observations on the Manager's further representations.
Mr. O'CONNELL
Is the Minister in a position to say what is going to happen in the meantime to these children in these overcrowded schools while these observations are going on between the Board of Works and the Manager? Is there any power in the Department to compel the Manager to take the necessary steps to prevent overcrowding?
I think that question will have to be the subject of a further question.