With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 47 together.
My information is that the sanitary accommodation in Saint John the Baptist Girls' National School, Clontarf, is adequate and that the system, though not up to modern standards, is in satisfactory working order. It may be, however, that some works of a maintenance nature require to be carried out. I am having enquiries made in this regard and shall take whatever steps may be necessary to ensure that there will be no reasonable cause for complaint during the few months in which the present school building will remain in use.
The new school at present being built at Seafield Road, Clontarf, will replace the existing Saint John the Baptist Senior Girls' and Infant National Schools. The contract for this building was placed in August, 1966, and provided for the completion of the building within two years. I understand, however, that progress on the building was rather slow in the earlier stages, and that a decision by my Department in June, 1968, to provide at the request of the parents accommodation additional to that covered by the original tender occasioned further delay in completing the building. I am informed that it is now expected that the building will be completed early in May of this year.