asked the Minister for Education the present position regarding the building project at St. John's national school, Sligo; and when sanction will be given for work to commence.
Written Answers. - Sligo National Schools.
220.
The authorities of St. John's national school, Sligo, have prepared tender documentation for a proposed extension to their school comprising a general purposes area and certain ancillary accommodation, and now seek authorisation to proceed to invite tenders. Because, however, of the prior claims of a large number of national school building projects involving the provision of urgently needed classroom accommodation, which are also seeking authorisation to invite tenders, and because of the difficult financial position generally, I am not in a position at this time to authorise the invitation of tenders for the project at St. John's national school. The Primary Buildings Branch of my Department will be keeping the position under review and will be in touch with the school authorities as soon as it may be possible to authorise further progress with their project.
221.
asked the Minister for Education the present position regarding the provision of a new building for Ballymote national school, County Sligo; the definite decisions which have been taken; the plans, if any, which have been completed or started for the building; when it is expected that work might commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Arising from the agreement reached between the school authorities and my Department on the amalgamation of the convent girls' and the boys' national schools at Ballymote, County Sligo, my Department have asked their professional officers to undertake a feasibility study in relation to the extension of the convent national school so as to provide the required accommodation of eight classrooms, a general purposes area and the usual ancillary accommodation. My Department will communicate the outcome of this study to the school authorities. At this early stage of architectural planning, I am not in a position to say when the actual work of building may commence.