Vol. 196 No. 1
asked the Minister for Education the reason for the delay in going ahead with the erection of the extension to the vocational school at Birr, County Offaly; when this matter was first submitted to his Department; and how long it has taken to prepare plans for this urgent and important work.
89.
asked the Minister for Education what is the position in regard to the preparation of plans for the extension to the vocational school at Birr, County Offaly; and if he will now put the work in hands as soon as possible.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 89 together.
The proposal to extend the Birr Vocational School was first submitted to my Department in September, 1959. Because it was considered that the attendance at the school was not such that an extension to the building was warranted, the proposal was not sanctioned, but the County Offaly Vocational Committee was informed that the matter would be reconsidered in due course.
The proposal came before my Department again in October, 1960, and sanction for the preparation of a sketch-plan was given in December, 1960. The sketch-plan was submitted in April, 1961, and following examination in my Department and in the Office of Public Works, the plan was approved, subject to certain amendments, in July, 1961.
Lay-out drawings and working drawings were in due course submitted and examined, and in March, 1962, the Committee was authorised to invite tenders for the building of the extension.
I understand that the Committee hope to have the Bill of Quantities completed very soon and that they may be in a position to advertise for tenders before the end of this month.
