asked the Minister for Education if he will state the present position regarding the erection of new schools at (a) Ballincollig, (b) Kilmurry, Crookstown and (c) Knocknamanagh, Minane Bridge, County Cork.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Erection of County Cork Schools.
The official lease, vesting the site of the proposed new Ballincollig National Schools in trustees, has been completed. I understand from the Commissioners of Public Works that the preparation of bills of quantities is being put in hands. When the bills of quantities have been completed the commissioners will arrange to have tenders invited for the erection of the new schools.
Certain necessary arrangements as regards the production of evidence of title to the site of the proposed new Kilmurry National School and also as regards the extension of the public water supply to the site have still to be made before the Department will be in a position to sanction a grant towards the cost of the erection of this school. The Department is endeavouring to have the arrangements in question completed as expeditiously as possible.
Tenders for the erection of the proposed new Knocknamanagh National School have been received by the Commissioners of Public Works and are under consideration. The commissioners hope to be in a position to place the contract, in the very near future, for the erection of this school.
Considering the long delay in connection with both Ballincollig and Kilmurry national schools, I would ask the Minister to have the whole matter looked into. I have been informed that the school managers' legal advisers' work in connection with the Kilmurry National School has been finally dealt with. Is the Minister aware that the Cork County Council has arranged for the water supply but, naturally, they do not intend going on with it until they are assured that the Department will proceed with the erection of the school?
As regards the water supply, I have no information that the Cork County Council has decided to go ahead with that. I will confirm that. I would be glad to know that that is so. On the legal side, evidence of title to the site of the school has not yet been furnished. So far as we can do anything to speed up the clarification of that matter, we are in the process of doing it.