asked the Minister for Education the reason it has taken eight years to provide an extension to O'Callaghan's Mills national school, County Clare, as the first application was in February 1979 and the contractors tendered in February 1984.
Written Answers. - County Clare School.
386.
When the application for a grant for the provision of an extension to O'Callaghan's Mills national school, County Clare, arose in 1979 it was necessary that a feasibility study be undertaken to establish whether the school site was suitable. The study disclosed that it would be necessary to acquire an extension of the site and the school authorities were so informed. Before a grant could be formally sanctioned for the project, the following matters then had to be dealt with: (1) preparation of a sketch plan and costings, (2) negotiation of a suitable local contribution, and (3) production of evidence of title to the site extension.
These matters were finally disposed of in May 1982, December 1982 and April 1983 respectively. The grant was formally sanctioned in June 1983 when the remaining stages of architectural planning were undertaken. My Department in November 1984 agreed to the invitation of tenders, which are at present under consideration by the Commissioners of Public Works. The Commissioners are expected to make a recommendation to my Department in the near future, and my Department will then be in touch with the school authorities.