asked the Minister for Education the results of the special survey initiated by him into the school building programme to cope with existing suburban pressures and to replace obsolete schools, as announced by him in response to Question No. 28 of 15 November 1977.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Building Programme.
30.
The school building programme for 1978 was accelerated.
The outturn for the year was £33,681,000 compared with the initial estimate provision of £30,645,000. In the current year, the allocation for the school building programme has been increased to £37,975,000.
Would the Minister accept that the question is framed directly in relation to the Fianna Fáil manifesto commitment?
That is right.
Could the Minister give me the name of any number or of at least one obsolete school at second level that he has replaced since he came into office?
If the Deputy puts down a question about obsolete schools I will answer it but I want to tell him that in this year I have had made available to me by the Government £51 million for the capital programme for education. I am just one year and seven months in office and when I took office the Book read £28,700,000. These stubborn facts speak for themselves.
Does the Minister accept that the question specifically related to the commitment to replace obsolete schools and that it is extraordinary that one year and seven months after coming into office he is not able to say whether he has replaced any obsolete schools.
The Deputy has two parts in his question about suburban pressures and obsolete schools. I am pointing out to him that in 1978 I have built new schools, replaced obsolete schools by new schools and built new schools in new areas on a scale never before achieved in this country.
If the Minister is now certain that he has replaced obsolete schools perhaps he could tell me one of them?
If the Deputy puts down a question about obsolete schools I will reply to it.
It is in the question.
The Deputy did not ask me to name obsolete schools that were replaced.
Why is the Minister so inhibited?
I am telling the Deputy and the House that £51 million is the capital allocation for educational building this year and Deputies on the opposite side should be on their feet clapping me for it.
Keep that for the Ard-Fheis.
Questions Nos. 31, 32, 33 and 34 have gone for written reply. We may have time to take No. 35 now.
On a point of order—perhaps I did not make it clear to the questions office that I was prepared to take a written reply to that also. The Minister may not have it.
Perhaps it is my mistake; I may not have marked it. Question No. 36.