asked the Minister for Education if there is a difference of opinion as to the proper responsibility for school building; if any proposals exist to change the present division of responsibility in this area; and if he will outline the present division of responsibility between the Office of Public Works and his Department in regard to school building.
Written Answers. - School Building Responsibility.
273.
The Department of Educcation administer a scheme of grants for the building and improvement of national schools and deals with matters such as the location and size of the school and the educational aspects of accommodation, layout and facilities. The Office of Public Works advise the Department on matters of a technical nature in relation to national school building and administers the architectural aspects of the building programme. There is no such division of responsibility in the case of post-primary schools, both educational and architectural functions being located in the building unit of my Department.
The question of transferring to the Department of Education the aspects of national school building at present dealt with by the Office of Public Works has been under consideration for some time but a decision on this matter has not yet been taken.