asked the Minister for Education if he will give the list of building priorities drawn up for primary schools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Building Priorities.
32.
Apart from the fact that, of necessity, a certain amount of continuing flexibility must be allowed as to the school building projects that may commence in the current financial year, it would not be in the public interest to give the information requested by the Deputy.
Why not?
The Deputy is aware that in practically every area in the country where a school is needed they feel they should have priority. Therefore, it falls to somebody to select the areas that are most in need. If we were to publish the priority list we would have demands from all over the place as to why this school or that school was not on the priority list.
Would the Minister not agree that the public are entitled to know what priority system is employed, what the priority list is, and then to make their own judgment on it? Would the Minister not agree he has a duty to publish this information?
What would happen after they had made their own judgment on it?
Then it would be a matter for the political opposition or anybody else who had views to express on it to express those views, because free speech still exists in this country.
Yes.
There is free speech for the Minister, too. Let him carry on.
I do not think it is necessary to answer that.