asked the Minister for Education if she will release the contract for the new national school at Ballinadee, County Cork so that building operations can commence in 1987; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Ballinadee (County Cork) National School.
30.
There is a proposal to replace the national school building at Ballinadee, County Cork, with a new building of traditional construction. Tenders have been invited for the project and examined in my Department. Because, however, of prior commitments and the pressure which these commitments placed on the capital resources available to my Department, it was not possible at the appropriate time to authorise the placing of a contract.
Ballinadee is one of several national schools whose accommodation problems are particularly acute. Their projects have been held up at the stage where in less difficult times the school authorities might have entertained reasonable hopes of having by now had their contracts placed.
These authorities in each case have made representations to me regarding their difficulties and I have indicated that I am prepared to respond with short term relief by way of grant for refurbishing existing accommodation or providing prefabricated classrooms as appropriate. I have also indicated that I would sympathetically respond to these schools' own initiatives for a solution to their difficulties provided what they propose is reasonable and can be achieved at modest cost.
Discussions with the authorities of Ballinadee national school are proceeding, and I am hopeful of a satisfactory outcome in due course.
In the circumstances outlined I am not in a position at this stage to release the contract for the new national school at Ballinadee so that building operations can commence in 1987.