asked the Minister for Education when the erection of the new primary school in Kilbeg, County Meath, will commence.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Meath School.
25.
I am not as yet in a position to say when building work will commence on the new national school at Kilbeg, for which sketch plans have been prepared and a grant has been sanctioned, but I am hopeful that it may be possible to include this project among those which will proceed to building in the financial year 1971-72.
Would the Minister not agree that the schools which have got priority for 1971-72 have already been notified? Would he then explain how he can now say he hopes to have this school commenced in 1971-72 in view of the fact that it is not on the priority list?
I am hoping I may be able to put it on the list. I cannot say that I will. It depends on finances. Consideration has been given to the erection of this school for some time, but because it is only quite recently that we have got the information in relation to the establishment of title, it has not been proceeded with earlier.
I am grateful to the Minister for the information he has given me, but surely he is aware that the old school was built in 1884, that there are no toilet facilities whatever in the school and that the number of children there cannot be accommodated in the existing building even if it were a good one? Would he not agree it is a matter for priority, and that the question of title could have been cleared up earlier if there had been co-operation all round?
I do not think it was just a matter of lack of co-operation. There were a number of changes of manager——
That was not the cause of the delay.
(Cavan): Has the title been cleared yet?
Yes. It was cleared only in January this year.
(Cavan): Is it not a fact that the priority list for 1971-1972 is only in the course of being settled now?
No.
We have a priority list. In view of the circumstances of this case however I will try to put it on the priority list, but I cannot guarantee that it will go on. I cannot guarantee that it will go on it.
If the Minister tried hard enough it would go on it.
(Cavan): Would the Minister not agree that in view of the condition of the school it is entitled to be put on it?
The Deputy is aware that we have built a very, very large number of new schools in recent times.
(Cavan): You would want to build a few more.
We are building them very rapidly.
Question No. 26 postponed.