Vol. 380 No. 6
asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the need for the new extension at Edenderry vocational school, Edenderry, County Offaly, in view of the fact that enrolment has increased from 304 pupils in 1981 to a projected enrolment of 610 in September 1988; and if she has approved the bills of quantities which are with her Department since March 1987.
46.
asked the Minister for Education when she anticipates that the extension for Edenderry vocational school, Edenderry, County Offaly will be allowed to proceed to tender in view of the urgency of same.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 46 together. My Department has approved the provision of an extension to Edenderry vocational school. Architectural planning is at the bills of quantities stage.
The County Offaly VEC has recently submitted a proposal in relation to the project which is at present being considered in my Department.
Is the position not such that the bills of quantities are with the Department for approval?
Planning is at the bills of quantities stage. However, there are new proposals from the VEC which are being considered at present.
Would the Minister say when the proposals were submitted?
No, I am sorry I cannot give the exact date as to when the proposals were submitted but I will pass that information on to the Deputy.
My information is that the bills of quantities are with the Department for approval for about 15 to 18 months.
Yes, but the VEC have made new proposals which have changed the total project fairly significantly. I understand that those proposals were submitted quite recently and are, at present, being actively considered.
In view of the fact that this school covers a huge catchment area and the enrolment figures, as outlined in my question, have increased significantly over the last number of years, and as the school urgently needs this extension, would he not treat this as a case of extreme urgency because at present both teachers and students are working under difficult, if not impossible, conditions? I would ask him to give an assurance to the House that he will treat the Edenderry extension as one of urgency in his Department.
The case is being treated with extreme urgency. A lot of local pressure is being put on to have progress made and, certainly, in the Department we are not holding up progress. The new proposals are a quite significant departure from the original proposals.
Deputy Enright rose.
Sorry Deputy, a brief question from Deputy Durkan please.
Can the Minister clarify whether the new proposals emanating from the VEC represent an extension or a reduction of the anticipated requirements as seen by the school representatives in the area and, if so, to what extent has the change taken place? What will the ultimate consequences be? Will it mean a further delay in the provision of the required facilities or will it mean, that the facilities will be provided at an early date?
The proposals have nothing to do with either a reduction or an increase. The proposals are rather for the purchase of a building rather than the construction of a new building.
