Vol. 404 No. 9
219 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for Education if she will outline (1) the total number of national school buildings which have ceased to be used as schools in the past five years, (2) the amount of public funds refunded to the State as a result of the sale of such buildings, and (3) her Department's policy on the proportion of State funds which are to be refunded in cases of school closure and sale.
The total number of national school buildings which have ceased to be used as schools in the years 1986-1990 is one hundred and three.
It is my Department's policy, in the event of the sale of a school, to agree with the individual school authorities an appropriate refund in respect of grants paid, having full regard to the legal position under the relevant lease.
The detailed information requested by the Deputy at (2) of his question is not compiled within my Department in a manner that would facilitate immediate abstraction. I have asked that the matter be examined with a view to furnishing to the Deputy at the earliest possible date whatever information is readily available.
