asked the Minister for Education the reason the existing vocational school in Mallow, County Cork, is to be developed rather than building a new school as had been envisaged.
Written Answers. - Mallow (Cork) Vocational School.
249.
It had been represented to the Department that future enrolment levels at the new school would be in the region of 550 pupils. The current enrolment at the vocational school is less than 350 and the most recent projections, compiled on the basis of current statistical data, indicate no significant growth on this figure; the enrolment projections formulated some years ago were excessive.
Since my Department is now satisfied that suitable and sufficient accommodation can be provided by developing and refurbishing the existing school, the major capital expenditure that would be involved in the provision of a new school could not be justified.