asked the Minister for Education the present position in relation to the proposed extension to Ardfinnan national school, Clonmel, 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 Extension.
15.
Sketch plans for the proposed extension to Ardfinnan national school, County Tipperary, were recently completed. The plans have now been referred to my Department's inspectorate for their recommendation from the educational standpoint. Subject to a satisfactory recommendation, formal grant sanction will be issued, after which the project will proceed to the detail design stage. I am asking that all stages of the project be processed as quickly as possible.
Would the Minister of State agree that this is a very urgent project? Is he aware of all the voluntary work that was carried out in Ardfinnan by the parishioners, the gross overcrowding in the classrooms there and the inconvenience for the children and the teachers who have to use the community hall? Can he hazard a guess as to when the work will start?
At this stage I cannot say when the work will commence. We have asked for a report from the inspectorate on the educational needs of the Ardfinnan area. As soon as that is available we will be moving to the next stages, that is the working drawings, then the bill of quantities and then the tender stage. It would be very unwise to say when work will commence but I must tell the Deputy that there will not be any delay in dealing with the remaining stages because this is an urgent case.
As it is now 3.30 p.m. I must move to the priority Question.
I should like to refer to a discussion I had with the Chair in the corridor some days ago concerning a matter which has upset me in regard to Priority Questions. I had my five Priority Questions tabled before the appointed date but it appears that after the appointed date one of my questions was ruled out of order because it had already been answered. The reason I am raising this matter is that I could have tabled a further Priority Question had I been informed of the position. I ask the guidance and help of the Chair on this matter.
As I explained to the Deputy in that brief and informal discussion, Question Time is now regulated by an order of the Dáil made on 28 May 1985. Like any other new system teething troubles will arise here and there and I suggest to the Deputy that she take this matter up with the Whip of her party and ask him to take it up with the Government Whip. I will do anything I can to try to streamline the system to try to eliminate such a difficulty.
I was anxious to put my views on the record and I am grateful to the Chair for the opportunity.