asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware that the extension of Mayfield National School, Cork, will not solve the needs of the area, and, if so, when a new school will be provided.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork School Needs.
I am aware that, while the extension of Angel Guardian's National School, Mayfield, Cork, which is at present in progress, will relieve to some extent the overcrowding in the school, it will not provide a permanent solution of the needs of the area.
It is considered that a new school for senior girls and for infant boys and girls should be erected on a new site and that the present building should be utilised for some time longer for the accommodation of senior boys. The question of the accommodation to be provided in a new school for girls and infants is at present being actively examined, and when a decision in the matter has been taken, investigations will be made as to the suitability of a site for a school which the reverend manager is in a position to offer. If the site is found to be suitable my Department will take up with the reverend manager the matter of the preliminary arrangements for the erection of the school.
I appreciate fully the urgency of the need for adequate and suitable school accommodation in the Mayfield area, and I and my Department will make every effort to hasten the provision of the proposed new school. I am unable, however, to say at present when the school will be built.
The Minister is aware that the manager in this case has some very ambitious plans for providing new buildings to supply the needs of this area and he is hoping for the utmost co-operation from the Minister's Department.
I have discussed the general problem with the manager within the last fortnight and I am aware of the type of site that he has at present in hand. An inspector has been instructed to visit the manager and to enter into consultation with him, with the Cork Corporation and the authorities of Cork County Council, so that at the earliest possible moment the Department may be in a position to say what accommodation should be provided in the school. As soon as that is settled, then the question whether the site to be offered is adequate or not will be considered, but no avoidable cause of delay will be allowed to stand in the way of speeding up the arrangements.
asked the Minister for Education what progress has been made towards the provision of new schools for infants, senior girls and senior boys in the Ballyphehane area of Cork City.
My Department awaits the receipt of documentary evidence of title to the sites for the new schools for senior girls and infants and for senior boys, respectively, which it is proposed to erect in the Ballyphehane area of Cork City. It is expected that evidence of title to the site for the senior girls' and infants' school will soon be forthcoming. In the case of the school for senior boys, however, I understand that it will take a considerable time yet to complete the arrangements which have to be made to enable proof of title to be procured. When the required evidence has been furnished my Department will sanction a grant towards the cost of the erection of each of these schools.
Meanwhile, in anticipating the satisfactory completion of title, working drawings and a specification for the new school for senior girls and infants have been prepared by the reverend manager's architect and subject to their being approved by the Commissioners of Public Works the reverend manager will be authorised to have bills of quantities prepared, so that tenders for the erection of the school may be invited as soon as possible.
It is a matter for the Commissioners of Public Works to make the arrangements for the erection of the new school for senior boys. The commissioners are having the preparation of the working drawings and specification for this school put in hands.