asked the Minister for Education the reasons plans submitted to her Department by the Board of Works for the improvement of facilities adjacent to a school (details supplied) in County Galway have not been sanctioned by her Department; if she will give details of the date the grants for the various proposals will be sanctioned; the amount of grants to be sanctioned for each proposal; the date of which the works can proceed; the up to date position regarding these proposals; and if she will make a statement on the entire matter.
Written Answers. - County Galway Schools.
608.
My Department in June last advised the chairman of the board of management of the school referred to that a request for a grant towards the cost of improvements to the school property had been referred to the Commissioners of Public Works for a report and recommendation. The commissioners' report is awaited. I have asked the commissioners to expedite the report so that my Department may be able to communicate further with the school authorities on this matter.
609.
asked the Minister for Education the reasons the proposed extension to a school (details supplied) in County Galway has not commenced; the amount of grant allocated for this extension; the up to date situation regarding design, planning and sanction of the work; the date these works will commence; if she is aware that the local contribution has been collected and is now available to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
As indicated in my reply to a question on 24 October 1984 concerning this project the Commissioners of Public Works have been asked to prepare the necessary sketch scheme. It is understood from the commissioners that the sketch scheme has not yet been completed. The question of sanctioning a grant for the project will not arise until my Department has considered the sketch scheme. It is not possible at this stage to state when building may commence.
610.
asked the Minister for Education the up to date position regarding the provision of a new vocational school (details supplied) in County Galway; if she will sanction the building of this school immediately; the amount of money that will be allocated; the date of the commencement of the building and any other relevant details; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Planning of the new vocational school at Tuam, County Galway, has been processed to the detailed design stage. The County Galway Vocational Education Committee has been requested to submit the working drawings and these are currently awaited in my Department. When these are received in my Department they will be examined and, if found acceptable, permission will be given to proceed to the next stage of planning i.e. preparation of the bills of quantities.
Pending the completion of all the planning stages, I am not in a position to say when tenders may be invited, or when work on the project will be commenced.
The question of the allocation of money for any school building project does not arise until the project is nearing the stage where it is ready to go to tender.