asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date position regarding the extension to a school (details supplied) in County Waterford.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Waterford School Extension.
18.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 18 together.
Tenders for the proposed extension to Glenbeg national school, County Waterford, are under examination in my Department, which hope to be in a position shortly to place a contract for the work.
When the Minister says "shortly" how soon does he envisage the tender will be accepted? Will it be weeks or months?
As the Deputy is aware, the examination of tenders is a slow process because of difficulties which can arise. Let me assure him that we are aware that this school is in a very bad state of repair and since 10 March there has been a sense of urgency with regard to the placing of a contract in the Department. We are anxious to proceed as quickly as possible when the technical examination is completed.
Would the Minister endeavour to expedite the granting of this tender so that the work can be completed before the commencement of the new school year?
We are considering the tenders as quickly as is humanly possible and we will endeavour to start this job at the first opportunity.
Might I ask whether the suppression of the name of the school in Question No. 18 and in another question on today's Order Paper represents a departure from existing policy? Heretofore it was only in personal matters that a name was not disclosed, and I assume it is the Department who change the form of the question.
Where a Deputy asks that details be supplied, we are happy to deal with a question in that way. We have no problems about giving full details if they are requested.
If I put down a question regarding Drung national school, with which the Minister is familiar, the name of the school would appear in the question. In this case, Deputy Gregory has a question relating to schools and I presume that the names were given. However, in the questions on the Order Paper such schools are anonymous.
That is a matter for the Deputy. We do not have any problems in that regard.
It is not a matter for the Deputy. The name of the school is usually given, otherwise the Minister would not know which school was being referred to.
In one of the questions the Deputy said "details supplied" which means he wanted the details kept private.
I do not think that is the case.
We must now proceed to the question nominated for priority today.