asked the Minister for Education if he will state with regard to North Kerry Constituency, or, if separate records are not kept, for the County of Kerry, the number of (i) schools condemned as at 30th June as being unsuitable for their purpose, (ii) proposals received from school managers for the erection of new schools, (iii) proposals sanctioned to replace those condemned, (iv) proposals received for repairs or reconstruction of existing schools, and the amount of State grants or other forms of assistance allocated under categories (iii) and (iv), and (v) new schools in course of erection at the present time.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Schools.
As at June 30th, 1957, the Commissioners of Public Works had reported that 43 national schools in the North Kerry constituency were regarded as being unsuitable for their purpose and require to be replaced by new schools.
In 22 of these cases proposals have been received from the school managers concerned for the erection of new schools. All 22 of these proposals have been approved by my Department and in eight cases grants towards the cost of the new schools have been sanctioned. In the remaining 14 cases the arrangements which are a necessary preliminary to the sanction of grants are in hands.
Proposals have been received from school managers for the execution of major schemes of enlargement or improvement (costing £1,000 or over) to nine existing schools in the constituency.
The total amounts of the State grants sanctioned towards the cost of the erection of new schools and of major schemes of enlargement or improvement in the cases in question are as follows:—
|
£ |
|
|
Eight new schools |
157,950 |
|
Four schemes of enlargement or improvement |
32,230 |
|
Grand Total: |
£190,180 |
In addition, arrangements for the execution of minor schemes of improvements (costing £1,000 or less) to a number of schools are at varying stages. I regret that I am unable to give particulars of the number of cases concerned or the total amount of the grants sanctioned in respect of them, as the compilation of this information would involve the expenditure of a considerable amount of official time which, I am satisfied, would not be warranted.
At the present time, three new schools are in course of erection in the constituency.