asked the Minister for Education if he will do everything possible to ensure the early erection of a permanent extension to Maynooth vocational school, County Kildare.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Kildare Schools.
19.
Mr. R. Burke
Planning for a permanent extension to Maynooth vocational school is in hands. It is hoped in the near future to agree a schedule of accommodation with the vocational education committee. Everything possible will be done to expedite the construction of the extension.
Has the Minister taken note of the fact that the Kildare Vocational Education Committee are very concerned over the delay and that in this university town four-and-a-half prefabs are being used at the moment? Is he aware that the projected figures, even without any natural expansion in an area such as this, are seven prefabs in 1975 and ten in 1976? If the extension is not built immediately and made available before 1978, there will be 14 prefabs in Maynooth and the patch will have outgrown the pants.
Mr. R. Burke
I am aware of the point made by the Deputy and it has been decided to extend the school to cater for 400 pupils in the medium term with provision for a further extension should the level of enrolment so require.
20.
asked the Minister for Education if he will allow County Kildare VEC to purchase property in Athy which they consider necessary for the immediate development of Athy vocational school.
Mr. R. Burke
Discussions have taken place recently between a deputation from the County Kildare Vocational Education Committee and officers of my Department in relation to the issue raised by the Deputy. The committee will consider proposals put to them by my Department during the course of the discussions. The matter will again be considered on the basis of further recommendations from the Committee.
Has the Minister taken note of the recent unanimous decision by members of the Kildare Vocational Education Committee, and that includes people from every party, to protest at this delay in acquiring a very suitable property, that this delay is hindering development in the area, and that the price, for a State body, is rather reasonable?
Mr. R. Burke
I happened to be in the building when that deputation came in on Monday last and I know precisely the details of this case. I fear the Department could not lay out the amount of money involved, but we have put a number of options to the VEC and when these are considered they can come back to me and we shall see what we can do.
We are not speaking of hundreds of acres but of a mere four acres in the centre of the town of Athy for future development of the vocational school.
Mr. R. Burke
The deputation which came into my office was dealing with a long strip of land along by the railway line as a car park and amenity space and the Department's view is that this would not be suitable and we have put alternative suggestions to them which they can consider.
How does the Minister reconcile the fact that his Department have decided that this is not suitable while elected representatives and priests and other responsible people have decided on two occasions that this piece of land is eminently suitable?
We are now entering into the realm of argument.
Mr. R. Burke
If the Deputy is referring to the long strip of land by the railway line, we consider that expenditure of the amount of money involved would not be justified in view of the fact, as the Deputy says, that the school is going to be moved to a new site.
I did not say that; the Minister said it.
Mr. R. Burke
The Deputy said it because I think he was referring to a four-acre site.
No, never.
Mr. R. Burke
In any event, they decided that the site was not suitable and we have put alternative suggestions to the VEC.
Am I to take it that the new Athy vocational school will be built on a new site?
Mr. R. Burke
That is a matter which the Deputy could raise specifically on another question.
The Minister managed to raise it on this.
The Chair is calling the next question.
Seeing that the Minister managed to raise this on a supplementary on this question, surely I am entitled to pursue it?
Would the Deputy not agree that I have given him a lot of latitude on this question?
I appreciate that, but I am anxious to get information because this is something the people of Athy would like to know about.
Would the Deputy please put a final brief supplementary?
We would like to know if there is to be a new school on a new site. The people of Athy would be very pleased to hear that, because we have been barking up the wrong tree.
The Deputy is making a speech rather than asking a question.
Mr. R. Burke
If the Deputy asks a specific question about that I will answer it.
Question No. 21.