andMr. E. Collins asked the Minister for Education the criteria for the provision of gymnasia at secondary schools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Secondary Schools Gymnasia.
24.
Pending the completion of the study referred to in the reply to Question No. 18 on 28 February, I am not in a position to state the criteria on which a scheme for the provision of sports halls on the basis of priority might be introduced.
Is the Minister aware that on a previous occasion in this House he said of sports halls that he loved them and he implied that almost the first thing he would do if he came into office would be to change the then policy in this matter?
The Deputy has got the implication.
May I ask the Minister when this study which he referred to will be completed, and if he has given any directions as to its completion date and the type of criteria which should be adopted by the group making the study?
I cannot put a date on the completion of the study. The only point I must make—and I am at considerable hazard all over the country, including, with respect, the Ceann Comhairle's constituency—is that there is a great backlog since the suspension of the erection of sports halls by the previous administration. It is very difficult to know which school to start off with. I would like to start off by building even one a year as an indication of our intention, but it is a hazardous thing to choose one school for a sports hall seeing that there is such a backlog.
(Interruptions.)
How long will it take to work out these criteria? It is very hard to understand why the working out of criteria could not be done quickly.
I remind the Deputy that, while working out criteria may have been a hobby of his, I am trying to deliver the goods.