asked the Minister for Education if, as an alternative to Loughan House, County Cavan, he will expedite the special residential school at Lusk, County Dublin, as recommended in the Child Care Task Force Interim Report; and the earliest possible date by which the school could be in operation.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Lusk (County Dublin) Special School .
15.
: The building of the residential school at Lusk is being expedited and has been given top priority since the planning team was set up last September.
A feasibility study has been carried out and outline plans drawn up. At present the architects are engaged on scheme design and this is expected to be completed in the early part of June. This will be followed by detailed design, preparation of bills of quantity and tendering. If the present schedules are adhered to, building work may be commenced in the summer of 1979. Completion of the building work is expected to take more than a year.
To avoid any misunderstanding I should add that this project is proceeding independently of the special arrangements in the case of Loughan House.
: Is the Minister aware that the Minister for Justice last week answered a question in relation to Lusk and gave me to understand that tenders were being sought and would be received in June of this year? If that is so the Minister's reply is erroneous.
: In the absence of an exact statement I cannot comment on what the Deputy says but I am quite sure that the Department of Justice and the Department of Education are at one in this and are giving the facts straight in each case.
: Is the Minister now saying that tenders will not be sought in June?
: The Minister is saying that the Lusk project will proceed according to the planning schedule outlined and that Loughan House, which is only a temporary expedient is the concern of the Minister for Justice. The people in my constituency are fed up with people talking about this excellent remote place which is scenically beautiful, the home of poets and where the people co-operated with the school that was already there in drama, games and so on, and they were delighted with the young chaps there.
(Interruptions.)
: Is the Minister aware that I am talking about Lusk, County Dublin?
: I am fully aware of Lusk and I am fully aware that the project is going ahead with all due speed.
: In view of the Minister's reply can I take it that the Minister for Justice is in error?
: Perhaps the Deputy would care to have another look at my reply and some of his earlier statements on this subject to refresh his memory.
(Interruptions.)
: If the Deputy knew how tenderly the Minister for Justice and myself regard each other he would not try to put a wedge between us.
: Question No. 16. A lot of time is being wasted.