asked the Minister for Education when the Department of Education will make an appropriate grant for the school for mildly handicapped children in Carlow; the amount of such grant; and if he is aware that the voluntary contribution from the local community has been available for some time.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Carlow School for Handicapped Children.
30.
My Department has already sanctioned an appropriate grant towards the cost of erecting the proposed new special school in Carlow for children who are mildly mentally handicapped. It is not the practice to make public the arrangements made between my Department and the school manager in respect of grant and local contribution for any particular school, but I may say that in deciding the proportion of the cost of the project which would be met by State grant, all relevant considerations were taken into account.
I am aware that the local contribution is available.
Can the Minister not state what exactly the grant is? The local community in Carlow subscribed most generously to this school and it is regrettable there is no sign of a start being made. The site is available, the people there have worked hard, and recently a letter came from the Department, dated 15th April, notifying the school manager that alternative accommodation should be found in the meantime and that the Department would pay the cost. Is this correct?
It is correct to say that a letter received from the manager on 16th March stated that he and his committee had considered setting up a school in temporary premises. The Department will agree to this arrangement.
Is the Minister aware that this arrangement is due to the fact that the Department have not yet paid the grant? The responsibility falls on the Minister and his Department who have not yet paid the grant. The Minister is not prepared even to say what the grant will be. When will we be in a position to start the building of the school?
I cannot tell the Deputy that at the moment.
Will the Minister say when the grant will be available? Is it true to say the grant will not be available until after 31st March, 1971?
As the Deputy is aware, I must place these on a priority list and the most urgent must be dealt with first. It may be some time before we are able to make this grant available. Nevertheless, we have agreed, and the manager and his committee have agreed, to go ahead in temporary premises.