asked the Minister for Education if he will give an assurance that the post-primary school at Scholarstown Road, Knocklyon, County Dublin, which was approved by his Department will open on schedule in 1983.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Knocklyon, County Dublin Post-Primary School.
19.
A suitable site has not yet been obtained in the Knocklyon area of County Dublin for a new post-primary school. In the circumstances it is not possible to give a precise date for the opening of the school.
Assuming the increased offer the Minister has now made to the owner of the land is accepted — I have no reason to believe it will not be accepted — will the Minister give an undertaking that he will approve the building of the school and the opening of it in 1983, as agreed by his predecessor, Deputy Wilson?
My predecessor merely indicated a hope that the school might be opened in 1983. Unfortunately, he did not succeed in purchasing a site.
I was wheeling and dealing.
Unfortunately there was more wheeling than dealing. As I explained on the Adjournment Debate last week, I have instructed my officials to make an increased offer to the owner of what would be a very suitable site——
Because Deputy N. Andrews put pressure on the Minister.
——as a result of representations made to me by Deputy Shatter, Deputy McMahon and the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism——
(Interruptions.)
This matter was debated at length.
I have also asked my officials to again investigate an alternative site which would be suitable if it were available. There is a great weakness in putting all one's eggs in one's basket when one is wheeling and dealing. I have found a second suitable site and we are negotiating for it as well.
I want to give the Deputy a clear undertaking. If I can get this site tomorrow, I will authorise the planning of the school tomorrow. Whichever day I get the site is the first day I can authorise the planning of the school. I have already explained to Deputy Andrews privately that, unless he knows of a new building method where schools can be built on stilts, I cannot build this school until we have a site. I would like to ask him to change his attitude and perhaps through his co-operation help us to get a suitable site. If he and his colleagues would do that I would be only too pleased to see that this school is provided.
Would the Minister agree that the statement he made on the Adjournment motion last week is a complete reversal of the letter sent to the Knocklyon post primary committee indicating that the school would not open until 1986? If Deputy Brennan and I had not raised this matter, he would not have reversed that decision.
There was no decision reversed. I have explained that I am most anxious to see this school provided, but I feel that the attitude of certain public representatives can only be described as mischievous and detrimental to the early provision of this school.
It is well known, and the Minister must accept it, that had it not been for the public meeting held in Knocklyon, and had the Fine Gael public representatives not got the message from the residents that they would not tolerate deferring the building of this school until 1983, the Minister would not have reversed his decision. The Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism, Deputy Kelly, indicated at an earlier meeting that he was bringing bad news from the Minister for Education, that the school would not open until 1986.
We cannot have a further debate on this. The question may not be raised for another six months.
In view of the statement which has been repeated several times by the Deputy, I think it would be advisable for me to refer to the earlier reply given by my predecessor on 2 April last. In that reply no reference was made to any year for the opening of the school. In his background note it was explained that a review group, commissioned by the Minister were investigating whether the school should be provided in 1982. It appeared it would not be necessary in 1983——
(Interruptions.)
That is how the uncertainty arose and is the reason the question mark hung like an albatross around the necks of the people of the Knocklyon area.
Deputy Wilson gave a clear undertaking——
This is the last day for questions before the Recess. Written replies will be given to the remaining questions for oral answer unless Deputies wish to leave their questions on the Order Paper, in which case they must notify the General Office immediately.
As a sum of £29.3 million has been allocated for the Department of Education and the figures given by the Minister total £62.592 million, I want to ask on the Adjournment how the Minister will spend £17 million in the month of December, or £19 million if he has added £2 million to the capital fund.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment Questions Nos. 50 and 51 of 8 December.
I will communicate with the Deputy.