asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that there is not sufficient accommodation in Kinsealy National School for the children of the district; if he will state the reasons for the delay in having a site acquired and the plans, etc., for the new school sanctioned; and, further, if his Department will take immediate steps to acquire a suitable site for the proposed new school.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kinsealy (County Dublin) National School.
I am aware that the Kinsealy National Schools are overcrowded. The manager has offered a suitable site for a new school and correspondence is proceeding with him regarding the local contribution to be provided towards the cost of the new building. Until this question is settled the grant for the erection of the new school cannot be sanctioned nor the plans prepared.
Considering that I have been raising the matter for two or three years, when will the Minister be in a position to say that this correspondence has been brought to a successful conclusion?
I am not in a position to say when. If a manager is anxious to have a new school built or improvements carried out, I try to facilitate him. May I point out to the Deputy that it is the responsibility of the manager to erect the school? I contribute, with the sanction of the Minister for Finance, towards the building but the provision of the site and the initial steps must be taken by the manager. If the manager is not satisfied to do his appropriate part in the matter, then, of course, the work cannot be gone on with.
Is the Minister satisfied that the manager is doing everything possible to have the school erected and if the Minister is satisfied that he is not, what steps does he propose to take?
That is a separate question.