I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 45 together.
The recommended tender for the project at St Mary's College, Ballisodare, is acceptable and my Department is prepared to provide a grant of £75,000 towards the work.
The funding being provided by my Department for this project is not the usual method of providing grant aid to secondary schools but is the result of an agreement reached with the school some time ago. The background to the project is that my Department was prepared to provide temporary accommodation at the school under the usual terms but the school authorities wished to have the accommodation provided in a permanent structure.
Following discussions between officials from my Department and the school authorities agreement was reached that my Department would provide a once off grant which the school authorities could use to provide a permanent structure. The agreement was conditional on the school authority funding the difference in the cost.
In November, 1996, the Department received written confirmation from the school authorities that the balance of the cost of the project would be met in full by them.