asked the Minister for Education the present position with regard to the continued provision and extension of facilities of a permanent nature at Confey College, Leixlip, County Kildare; her proposals to accommodate extra pupils in September 1989; the full extent of the accommodation to be provided; the full extent deemed necessary by the board of management; the costs of the provision of the facilities to date; the overall cost of the proposed final structure; and the schedule for the completion of the final structure.
Written Answers. - County Kildare Schools.
79.
Provision for the proposed new community college at Confey, which is being undertaken by the County Kildare VEC, is based on a schedule of accommodation of 3600 m2. The construction of four new classrooms will commence shortly and this work is scheduled for completion in September 1989.
This accommodation in addition to the temporary accomodation already on site will be adequate to cater for enrolments including the pupil intake on 1 September 1989.
The foregoing has been implemented in conjunction with County Kildare VEC and the school authorities. The cost incurred to date on the provision of school accommodation is £184,000. It is not possible at this early stage of the planning process to indicate the full cost of the final structure at Confey. The time-scale for the completion of the project has not yet been determined.
80.
asked the Minister for Education if she has considered a submission to her Department of 13 January 1989 on behalf of St. Conleth's Girls and Infants school, Newbridge, County Kildare; if she accepts the validity of the case made by the parents association; if she will respond favourably to the application for funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The day-to-day running costs of primary schools are discharged by making funds available by means of State grants and contributions from local sources. The State capitation grant is not intended to meet operating costs in full. Each board of management is responsible, under the Rules for National Schools, for making arrangements for the collection of such funds locally, in supplement of the State grant, as will ensure that the school premises will be adequately heated and cleaned and kept in proper decorative condition.
The payment of the capitation grant is regulated by the published conditions, which are of general application. I am not authorised to make additional grants to individual schools. The only provision for supplementary State assistance for running expenses is through the special fund allocated for schools serving areas of severe disadvantage.
In relation to the appointment of a caretaker I would refer the Deputy to my answer to Question No. 33 on 15 February 1989.