asked the Minister for Education when he intends to sanction plans submitted by Donegal Vocational Committee for Creeslough vocational school.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Creeslough (Donegal) Vocational School.
38.
I have approved the working drawings and specification for the new vocational school which the County Donegal Vocational Education Committee proposes to provide at Creeslough, and have authorised the preparation of contract documents for the project.
Can the Minister inform me when these plans were first submitted to his Department for sanction?
I have not the first date in regard to the plans. There was a delay, due to the fact that the site which was offered voluntarily did not have a title, and before plans could be prepared the Department of Education asked that the committee indemnify themselves against a later claim being made in regard to the site on which the school was to be built. The first sketch plans were approved in October, 1963, and the layout plans were approved in October, 1964.
Would the Minister accept that his Department is to blame for the holding up of sanction of these plans?
The delay was due to the fact that the title to the site, which was given voluntarily, could not be established. If a school were built in such circumstances, somebody could come along and claim the school. That was the main delay. The later delay was due to my having a survey carried out with other types of schools in mind which, if put into effect, would necessitate a change in the plans. The plans have now been sanctioned.
Therefore, I can assure the people in Donegal that when Deputy Cunningham says the Minister's Department is at fault for holding up the plans in respect of that vocational school in Donegal——
That surely is not a supplementary question.
I am asking the Minister would I be correct in telling the people in Donegal that Deputy Cunningham is correct and that the Minister is wrong?
If the people of Donegal would accept your assurance about Deputy Cunningham——
Question No. 39.