asked the Minister for Education if a grant will be paid to the Assumption Secondary School, Walkinstown, Dublin, for a recreation hall and gymnasium which has been erected, as part of the hall is at present in use to accommodate pupils during school hours.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin School Recreation Hall.
6.
Mr. R. Burke
In January, 1972, the school authorities were informed by my Department that the provision of halls must be postponed for the present in view of other priorities such as the provision of urgently needed classrooms.
The school authorities would appear to have gone ahead with the provision of a hall without approval of plans, et cetera. In the circumstances a grant is not payable under the secondary schools building grant scheme.
Did I understand the Minister to say that the authorities went ahead without planning approval from his Department?
Mr. R. Burke
Yes.
Prior to the Minister taking office I wrote to his predecessor and I was told the matter was under consideration and surely if, at that time, no reference was made to the school authorities going ahead without planning approval from the Department it is rather amazing that this reply should come forward now.
The Chair would prefer the Deputy to ask a question rather than make a statement.
Mr. R. Burke
The Department was not notified that the hall was being built and, under the terms of the building scheme, we cannot sanction this.
Are the school authorities entitled to apply for planning approval from the Minister's Department now?
Planning permission would seem to be a matter for the Minister of another Department.
I am not talking about planning permission. I am talking about planning approval from the Department of Education. Are the authorities entitled now to apply to the Minister for Education for approval at this stage?
Mr. R. Burke
But the hall is already built.
Surely the Minister should consider giving the grant at this stage in view of the fact that the hall is being extensively used and has filled a need in the area. There is also the fact that one room is being used as a classroom to provide education for children and, if this room were not available in the hall, the Minister would be expected to provide additional schoolroom accommodation.
Mr. R. Burke
The hall was proceeded with without the permission of the Department and we cannot sanction any retrospective grant.
Do I understand the school will be punished then if it is not obedient to the Department even though they are using the accommodation for class purposes.
Mr. R. Burke
There is no question of punishment. It is a question of compliance with the rules of the Department.