Vol. 508 No. 1
810 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the results of the assessment of the implications of recent housing developments in Ratoath, County Meath, for the adequacy of existing national school accommodation in Ratoath, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on whether additional buildings are to be provided to cater for the very rapid growth of population in the area. [17355/99]
837 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the overcrowding conditions in Ratoath national school, County Meath; and the steps, if any, he will take to deal with this matter. [17590/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 810 and 837 together.
Earlier this year, my Department undertook to determine the future primary school accommodation needs of Ratoath, in view of substantial housing development in that area. As part of this process, a member of my Department's architectural staff will visit Ratoath national school shortly to assess the existing school building and the extent to which the site would allow further development to take place. On receipt of this report, my Department will come to a decision on the question of additional primary school accommodation in Ratoath.
I might add that, as an interim measure to cater for immediate accommodation needs, my Department has approved grant-aid for the rental of three prefabricated classrooms from September 1999 at Ratoath national school.
