asked the Minister for Education if she will give an up-to-date report on the present student accommodation at a community college (details supplied) in County Meath; the projected accommodation for 1986 and 1987; and if she will give details of the proposed new physical education centre at this college.
Written Answers. - Meath College Accommodation.
165.
My Department are satisfied that the existing accommodation at the college in question is adequate to cater for the current enrolment. The provision of two additional classrooms has been approved to cater for increased enrolments in the school year commencing September 1985. The provision of accommodation to cater for possible enrolment increases in 1986 and 1987 will be a matter in the first instance for the school authority concerned. Any request to my Department for assistance in this respect will be dealt with in the normal way, as and when received.
The school authority has requested the provision of a physical education hall, changing rooms and showers at the college. There is a large backlog of such applications facing my Department at present in addition to the hundreds of applications for urgently needed classroom, laboratory and workshop accommodation. Priority must be given to the classroom accommodation needs, when funds are being allocated from the capital resources available. In these circumstances, I am not in a position to say when it may be possible to provide financial assistance towards the cost of a physical education facility for this college.