asked the Minister for Education the progress that has been made in the provision of a sports complex in Ballymun, Dublin.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Ballymun Sports Complex.
29.
Mr. R. Burke
The cost of building sports halls in connection with new secondary schools has escalated so much that building could proceed only by effecting cutbacks in more pressing works. Consequently, I have had research carried out to secure alternative designs which would be accepted both functionally and economically. Following the completion of the research, I hope to be in a position to take a decision in the near future regarding the provision of sports halls generally. A decision in relation to the provision of a sports hall for Ballymun Comprehensive Schools will be taken in this context.
Would the Minister not agree that the situation in Ballymun is a unique one? The school has been opened for a considerable time and the Minister himself promised a sports hall on a number of occasions. Surely the Minister recognises that there is a crying need or are we to take it that this is the usual lip service from the Government to amenities for the young?
Mr. R. Burke
The Deputy would be wrong in taking anything of the kind. He will be aware that the costs of sports halls have escalated beyond twice what was estimated for the original set of comprehensive and community schools. The Deputy will also realise that we have sought to remedy this by seeking to get designs which would be more in keeping with the proper utilisation of the capital resources available and I should be in a position in the near future to make some progress in this matter.
The Minister gave me a similar reply in relation to a hall in Malahide in the middle of January. Has the Minister not yet got in the quotations?
Mr. R. Burke
I have not been informed of the results of the investigation but I expect it will not be very long more, perhaps a matter of days or weeks.
We were informed in relation to a previous similar situation that a decision would be given just after Christmas.
That is not a question. No. 30, please.