asked the Minister for Education whether he is in a position to state when work will start on the proposed new national schools at Ballincolling, Kilmurry (Crookstown) and Knocknamanagh, Minane Bridge, County Cork.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork National Schools.
I understand from the Commissioners of Public Works that the working drawings and specification for the proposed new Ballincollig National School have been completed. The official lease of the school site is at present with the manager's solicitors for signature by the local parties. When the lease has been completed the Commissioners of Public Works will proceed to have bills of quantities drawn up preparatory to the invitation of tenders for the erection of the building.
In the case of the proposed new Kilmurry National School certain arrangements have still to be made as regards the production of evidence of title to the site, so as to enable the plot to be vested in trustees before a grant towards the cost of the new building can be sanctioned.
The Department has sanctioned a grant for the new Knocknamanagh School. The arrangements for the erection of the building will be in the hands of the Commissioners of Public Works, who will now have the working drawings and specification prepared. It will also be necessary to have the site vested in trustees by an official lease. This lease is being prepared by the Department's legal adviser, and it is hoped that it will shortly be issued to the manager's solicitor for signature by the local parties.
I am not therefore in a position to say when work will start on the erection of these three schools.
With regard to the work at Ballincolling and Kilmurry, is it safe to assume that when the question of the lease is settled, bills of quantities will be drawn up?
The school at Ballincollig is entirely a matter at the moment for the Office of Public Works. No delay of any special kind will intervene in that case. With regard to the Kilmurry school, it will not be possible to fix a grant until the evidence of title has been produced. Immediately it is produced it will be possible to fix the grant and, as far as the Department of Education is concerned, it is on the priority list for allotting the grant straight away once the legal formalities are completed.