asked the Minister for Education if he will state (a) the number of schools under construction in 1956-57, 1957-58 and 1958-59, (b) the number of new schools required, (c) what steps he intends to take to expedite the erection of schools, and (d) the capital expenditure involved.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Schools Building Programme.
33.
The number of national schools in course of erection on 31st March, 1957, on 31st March, 1958 and on 31st December, 1958 was 75, 111 and 123 respectively.
I am advised that there are at present 741 national schools which require to be replaced by new schools. Grants have been sanctioned by my Department for the erection of new buildings in 123 of these cases.
My Department has taken and will continue to take all possible action, in collaboration with the other parties concerned, to have new schools provided as expeditiously as possible to replace the national schools which are considered to be unsuitable according to modem standards. In fact the position has been reached that there are now more school buildings in course of construction than ever before.
Because of imponderable factors which have a bearing on the matter I am unable to give an accurate estimate of the capital expenditure involved in the erection of the new schools which are still required. The indications are that the expenditure will be of the order of £6,000,000.