asked the Minister for Education the present position in relation to the proposed extension to Ballingarry national school, Thurles, County Tipperary; and if urgent steps will be taken to have this extension erected and completed without further delay.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - County Tipperary School.
11.
My Department, in February 1985, sanctioned a grant towards the cost of erecting an extension to Ballingary national school.
This project has now proceeded to the detail design stage and the professional officers concerned have been asked to complete this stage of work as soon as possible.
When the working drawings are completed the preparation of the bill of quantities will follow after which the question of inviting tenders for the project will arise for consideration.
Can the Minister say why there was such a delay in connection with the school? I am sure he is aware of the great difficulties facing teachers and pupils. Was there a question of files being lost? Why was a hand brake put on progress in regard to this school?
The hand brake was off in relation to this school. There were local problems in relation to title and to a review of the local contribution. As soon as this stage is completed — as the Deputy is aware the school building programme is shared by the Office of Public Works — it will proceed to the next stage which is the working drawings. When the working drawings are completed, the preparation of the bill of quantities will follow and then it will go to tender. I assure the Deputy that there was no delay in my Department in relation to this extension.
Could the Minister say whether it will be three or six months before the work starts? Could he hazard a guess, because people in the area are very anxious in this regard?
I could not give any date or indication when the work will start in that school because the full responsibility of starting it does not lie within the Department of Education. Therefore, I would not be in a position to give a specific date. Sketch plans are being prepared, from there it will go to the working drawings and so on. I cannot be sure of the date on which work will commence.