(Cavan) asked the Minister for Education when he proposes to approve of the proposals of the Cavan Vocational Education Committee to purchase a site for a new vocational school at Kingscourt, County Cavan, as the delay would appear to be unnecessary and unreasonable.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kingscourt (Cavan) Vocational School.
39.
My Department is at present assessing the best means of providing vocational education facilities for the area around Kingscourt, County Cavan.
Pending a decision in this matter, it is not considered advisable to enter into a commitment in regard to a specific site.
(Cavan): Am I to take the Minister's reply as meaning that the committee are not now being authorised to proceed with the purchase of the site? If that is so, would the Minister explain what change has come about since a deputation was received in his Department from the committee, augmented by responsible citizens of Kingscourt, when they were told to go ahead, provide a site and build a technical school there?
The Deputy may take it that, as I said in my reply, it is not considered advisable to enter into a commitment in regard to a specific site. The reason for this is that the survey of post-primary facilities in that area has not been completed but the information available from it so far indicates it would be wiser not to enter into such a commitment.
(Cavan): Does the Minister remember a deputation being received in his Department about 18 months ago?
That was before my time.
(Cavan): There was a Minister there at the time and that deputation satisfied the Department and the Minister that there was a need for a technical school at Kingscourt. They were told to go home and provide a site. What change has come about since then? The people there, many of whom are supporters of the Minister, are convinced that it is needed.
May I point out to the Deputy that the development branch of my Department was set up only within the past 12 months. The information being assembled by them was not available to my Department or to anybody else until quite recently.
(Cavan): Does this mean that it is going to be put on the long finger?
A decision will be made as soon as all the information has been assembled.