asked the Minister for Education if he will state the value of plans in arrears in the special schools building division of the Office of Public Works (a) at present, and (b) at 31st March in each year from 1953 to 1957.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Arrears of School Building Plans.
If the Deputy's question is intended to refer to the amount of grants for the erection of new national schools and the enlargement and improvement of existing national schools sanctioned by my Department but not expended by the Commissioners of Public Works in cases where architects' plans, specifications and, where required, bills of quantities have been prepared, the position is that it is the general practice of the commissioners, when such plans, etc., have been completed, to invite tenders or authorise the invitation of tenders for the works.
If, however, the Deputy has in mind the amount of grants sanctioned by my Department but not expended by the commissioners, the following are the relevant particulars:—
|
£ |
||
|
At 31st March, |
1953 |
1,958,000 |
|
,, ,, ,, |
1954 |
2,549,000 |
|
,, ,, ,, |
1955 |
3,215,000 |
|
,, ,, ,, |
1956 |
3,819,000 |
|
,, ,, ,, |
1957 |
3,371,000 |
|
,, 31st December, |
1957 |
3,278,000 |
I may add, in this connection, that in order to achieve an expenditure of a particular amount on school building, enlargement and improvement in any one year it is necessary that at the beginning of the year the liabilities of the Commissioners of Public Works in respect of grants sanctioned but not expended should be at least double that amount.
Whatever method is in existence in the Department is not capable of dealing with the position. It has shown itself to be incompetent to do the work. It is very important to provide new schools. Does the Minister intend to take any action to expedite the disposal of these plans?
The Deputy might have taken a wrong impression from the figure of £3,250,000. If £1,000,000 is sanctioned at the beginning of a year, having regard to the details necessary to be gone into, it could hardly be expended at the end of that year and if a further £1,000,000 is sanctioned there might be an accumulation at the end of the period. There was at the end of 1956 a period of almost six months in which no grants were sanctioned by the Department. Some arrears accumulated. If the Deputy would examine the last two figures, he will see that from 31st March, 1957, to 31st December, 1957, there was a reduction of almost £100,000 in those arrears.