asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date situation regarding plans for the future of post-primary education in the Skerries area, County Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Skerries (Dublin) Post-Primary Education.
73.
A secondary school for 800 pupils is at the preliminary stage in the building unit of my Department.
It is not possible to say at this stage when building work will commence but every effort will be made to have the new school erected as quickly as possible.
In view of the expansion of the Skerries area does the Parliamentary Secretary agree that to say "as soon as possible" is not sufficient? Would the Parliamentary Secretary not give a clear indication of when the school will be provided?
I do not think I am yet in a position to do that. The building unit of the Department of Education are discussing the schedule of accommodation for the new school with the board of management. When the schedule of accommodation has been agreed the board of management will be authorised to proceed with the preparation of a sketch scheme for the new building. Allowing 12 months for planning and so on, building work should commence in the spring of 1976, provided funds are available. That is reasonably specific information and as specific as I can be at this stage.
In the schedule of accommodation is it the intention to construct at the same time as the classrooms a sports hall for the use of the 800 children?
That would appear to be another question.
Am I to take it that a decision has been reached to build the sports hall?
That is a separate question.
That is a separate question and I do not have any information which will enable me to answer it.
I asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date situation regarding plans for the future of post primary education in the Skerries area. Plans would incorporate the provision of a sports hall.
I do not have the information available.
Is it the Parliamentary Secretary's intention to provide this sports hall?
I do not have the information and therefore I cannot answer the Deputy.
Next question.
This is a very important matter.
If the Deputy considers it that important he should put down another question.
A question to that effect is down and the Parliamentary Secretary should have given a proper answer instead of the usual slip-shod reply he gave to me.
The schedule of accommodation is being drawn up and the Deputy's question refers to the content of that schedule. It is rather difficult to indicate the content of a schedule which has not been fully drawn up.
Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply——
I have already allowed Deputy Burke three supplementaries and I am not allowing him ask any more.
I have offered three times but I do not think I caught the eye of the Chair.
Deputy Wilson for a final supplementary question.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary agree that if the concept of community school was operative in the area it would include a sports complex?
That is a separate question.
This is just post-primary. The plans at the moment are for a voluntary secondary school in this area.