asked the Minister for Education whether it will be possible to maintain normal standard fire regulation requirements at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare after January 1988 if her Department goes ahead with proposed revised staffing arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - County Kildare Schools.
115.
The matter referred to by the Deputy would be one, in the first instance, for the board of management of the school. My Department have not been made aware of any particular difficulties in this regard in relation to the school.
116.
asked the Minister for Education if there are sufficient funds still available in the 1987 Estimates to enable the carrying out of improvement works and extension of facilities at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
My Department are agreeable to grant aiding certain improvement works and extension of facilities at the County Kildare school referred to, by way of short-term relief of its accommodation problems. The necessary architectural planning is currently being undertaken by my Department's professional advisers, and construction work will be put in hands as soon as this planning has been completed. The required funds will be allocated, and the question of their availability in the 1987 Estimates is not an issue. In fact it is unlikely that the grant expenditure will arise in 1987.
The Deputy is no doubt aware that plans for a major permanent extension to provide for the long-term needs of the school cannot at present be processed further because of the pressure on the capital funds available to my Department.
117.
asked the Minister for Education if, following her recent meeting with the delegation from a school (details supplied) in County Kildare, she will grant approval for the carrying out of the necessary extension and improvement work to this school in 1988; if there is sufficient capital available for the carrying out of the work in the coming year; if her attention has been drawn to the urgent necessity for the provision of the extra facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I am aware of the need for the extension and upgrading works at this school which is estimated to cost £1.12 million. The developed sketch scheme has been received in my Department and is under examination at present. The restriction on the relevant capital allocation, however, precludes expenditure on any new building starts. I am not, therefore, in a position to say when the proposed works will commence.