asked the Minister for Education what was the amount of the grant sought by the school manager in Tallaght, County Dublin, for the building of a primary school; and when this grant will be sanctioned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin School Grant.
31.
It has been decided to build two large national schools to cater for the children of the new housing area in the parish of Tallaght. It is not possible at this stage to say what the cost of the schools may be, or the amount of the grant that will be made towards the cost of these schools.
In the meantime, arrangements are in operation whereby primary school children are being brought by means of a school transport service to Saint Damien's National School, Crumlin, where there is suitable accommodation which is at present surplus to the requirements of that area.
There are indications that further temporary school accommodation may shortly be required, and my Department is in touch with the manager with a view to having this accommodation provided at Tallaght.
Although it is not customary to disclose the amount of the State grant sanctioned in respect of any particular school building project, I can assure the Deputy that the grant which will be sanctioned in this instance will be considerably in excess of the normal two-thirds provided for in my Department's regulations.
The Minister has not answered the question I asked. I asked what was the amount of the grant sought by the manager of the school. The Minister did not answer that anywhere in his reply.
It is not usual to give that type of information.
A Deputy cannot get an answer to any question from the Minister. I have asked a question and the Minister has sidestepped it.
I have not sidestepped it. The Deputy is aware of the fact that this type of information is never given in this House. The amount of the grant sanctioned is not given.
Can I ask the Minister whether the amount sought was £11,000? The Minister did not give one shilling of that sum. Instead, the Minister is arranging transport from Tallaght to Crumlin in order to bring the children to the prefabricated classrooms in Crumlin. Is this the best the Minister can do for eduction in a place like Tallaght, which in a few years will be bigger than Cork?
Perhaps the Deputy was not listening to the answer given. I have stated that it has been decided to build two large national schools to cater for the children of the new housing area in the parish of Tallaght. It is not possible at this stage to say what the cost of the schools may be, or the amount of the grant that will be made towards the cost of these schools.
I did not ask the cost of the schools. Could the Minister tell us how long this arrangement will be going on and when the schools will be built?
That is a separate question. Question No. 32.
Prefabricated buildings are to be erected at Tallaght.
Has the Minister any estimate for these buildings? When are they going out for contract?
We will get them out as soon as possible.
Has an estimate been sought yet?
I have not got that information here.
Will the transport cost £5,000 for one year alone to bring the children to Crumlin?
That is a separate question. The question relates to a grant only.
We propose to build two large national schools to cater for the children of that area.
I have called Question No. 32. The Minister should answer the question when it is called.
The Deputy is aware of the fact that there are many things involved in relation to the building of schools. One cannot wave a magic wand and have the schools suddenly appear. There are many and varied factors in relation to them.