asked the Minister for Education if he will state the cause of the delay in building the new schools at Mell, Drogheda; further, when building is likely to commence and when the schools are likely to be ready for occupation.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - County Louth Schools.
A grant has been sanctioned by my Department towards the cost of the erection of a new school to replace the present Mell National School, Drogheda. The arrangements for the erection of the new school are in the hands of the Commissioners of Public Works.
Because of the increasingly heavy programme of work involved in connection with the erection of new schools and the enlargement and improvement of existing schools and of the pressure on the architectural staff of the Commissioners of Public Works it necessarily takes the commissioners a considerable time to complete the arrangements which have to be made by them subsequent to the sanction of grants, in order to enable tenders to be invited and contracts to be placed.
When the commissioners have had working drawings and a specification for the new school at Mell prepared they will be in a position to invite tenders.
It is not possible to say, at this stage, when building is likely to be commenced or when the new school is likely to be ready for occupation, but the preliminary arrangements for its erection will be dealt with as expeditiously as possible.