asked the Minister for Education if he will make a statement regarding the delay in providing a new national school at Portmarnock, County Dublin, the date on which building work will be commenced and completed, the estimated cost, and the number of pupils (male and female) who will be accommodated.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Portmarnock (Dublin) School.
134.
The initial cause of delay in providing new national schools at Portmarnock, County Dublin, was the difficulty experienced by the Reverend Manager in acquiring a suitable site. Delay resulted from the revising of the plans of the new schools to meet certain objections of the local authority.
The working drawings have been prepared and the bills of quantities will be completed at an early date. The Commissioners of Public Works expect to be in a position to invite tenders by the end of next month. It is not possible to say, at this stage, when work will commence or finish. The new schools will have accommodation for 120 boys and 120 girls and the estimated cost is £22,000.
County Dublin is not my area but I happen to have lived there in the summer for the past 25 years and some of my children attend the school. It is overcrowded, dilapidated; there are no flush toilets; there is no electric light. It is rat-infested and it is a danger to the children. There has been a strike of the school children there and another one is threatened, unless there is immediate action. I do not blame them and I hope the Minister will keep those points in mind.
As I have said, a new school is being proposed.
As long as there is not undue delay. The people want action.
There will not be undue delay.