asked the Minister for Education if he will state (a) the number of national schools throughout the country which are considered to be below modern health standards; (b) the number of new national schools under construction; (c) the number of national schools under reconstruction; and (d) when the present programme is likely to be completed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - New National Schools.
(a) According to the information at my disposal it appears that there are about 460 existing schools which it is necessary or desirable because of their falling below modern standards, to replace by new schools. Grants for the erection of new schools have not yet been sanctioned in these cases. There are 192 cases of other schools which require to be enlarged or reconstructed, but in which grants for the works have not yet been made.
(b) The number of new schools which are at present being erected is 60. Work has not yet commenced on the erection of a further 102 new schools for which grants have been sanctioned.
(c) Schemes are at present being carried out for the enlargement, reconstruction, etc., of 40 national schools. In a further 77 cases grants have been sanctioned for such schemes, but work on the schemes has not yet been commenced.
(d) I am not in a position to say when the present programme of school building and improvement will be completed. I may add, however, that the general question of the arrangements for the erection or improvement of national schools is one which is engaging my earnest attention.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that in view of the large number of schools that are considered to be below modern health standards, the number of schools under construction and reconstruction is rather small?
Possibly, but it is the best the Department can do with the facilities available to them.
Is it not true that more schools have been built and reconstructed in the last four years than in the previous 20?
It is not.