asked the Minister for Finance if there are any proposals in the Office of Public Works for repairs and renovations to St. John's school, Kinsale, County Cork; when such proposals were received; and when work is likely to commence.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork School.
55.
The question of renovating this school has been examined but improvement to modern standards would not be feasible within reasonable limits of cost and it is considered that a new school on a new site is the proper solution. I have arranged that officers from the Office of Public Works and the Department of Education will discuss with the school manager and the parents' association the question of carrying out some works to improve the premises until a new school can be provided.
Is the Minister aware that the manager and the people concerned are quite satisfied with this school? It is quite a good school and if a normal amount of expenditure could be provided for it that would be sufficient. The people are quite satisfied with it.
Quite a reasonable amount of work has been done on this school. Officials from my Department and from the Department of Education will discuss this matter with the manager and the parents' association immediately after Easter in order to see what renovations can be made. We are of the opinion, as we were some years ago, that the only real solution is to provide a new school.
I would ask the Parliamentary Secretary to get in touch with the manager and the people again and to have a consultation with them. There are worse schools throughout the country.
That is what we are doing.