asked the Minister if the proposal for the provision of a four-roomed vocational school at Kilmallock, County Limerick, has met with the sanction of his Department; and, if not, if he will state the cause of the delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kilmallock Vocational School.
62.
I have given sanction to the proposal for the provision of a four-roomed vocational school at Kilmallock, and sketch plans for the new school, submitted by the County Limerick Vocational Education Committee, have been approved. Drawings indicating the proposed lay-out of the different classrooms, which must be approved before the preparation of working drawings can be undertaken, are at present under examination in my Department. Because of heavy pressure of work arising out of school examinations at this time of the year, it was not possible to deal with the lay-out drawings for this school as promptly as would be desired. I expect, however, that a decision as to the suitability of the drawings will be communicated to the Committee within a week from this date.
May I ask if the local demand was for a five-roomed school and whether that demand has been more or less turned aside in favour of the four-roomed school? There would be a necessity for a five-roomed school in that area.
Authorisation was given for the sketch plan for a four-roomed school but a sketch plan for a five-roomed school was submitted. The committee were asked to submit plans for a four-roomed school which was authorised.
Would the Minister not agree that where four-roomed schools have been erected and where vocational committees are seeking now to extend to cope with crowding, the carrying out of these extensions is a very expensive task? Would it not be better if the Department, in the examination of proposals for five-roomed schools, took into consideration the potential of the years to come?
That is a separate question.
As far as possible, the Department of Education tries to estimate the future needs of the area and bases its authorisation on the estimated future needs.