Vol. 415 No. 3
180 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education if, in relation to proposals for a new boys' national school in Bandon, County Cork the alternative proposals submitted by the parent action committee have been costed; if so, if he will outline (1) the basis of these costings (2) the amount thereof and (3) the comparative cost of acquiring the vacated convent secondary building.
181 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education if, in relation to the boys' national school in Bandon, County Cork, he will outline (1) the list of necessary works proposed to make the vacated convent secondary building suitable, (2) the amount of grant aid allocated to cover the cost of these works and (3) whether a sufficient number of classrooms will be provided to cater for all the boys attending without resort to prefabs.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 181 together.
The alternative proposals submitted by the parents action committee to accommodate the boys of St. Patricks and St. Fintans national schools in Bandon, County Cork have been examined and costed by my Department. The cost involved in these proposals would be far in excess of the cost of making the former secondary school premises suitable for the pupils of these schools and because of this there is no option but to reject them.
I therefore confirm my Department's intention to use the former convent secondary school as a permanent home for the boys national schools when amalgamated. I have recently written to the patron of the boys' schools in this regard.
The works considered necessary to these premises are mainly connected with improved playground, car parking and bus pull-in facilities and some refurbishment of the classroom accommodation.
