(Cavan) asked the Minister for Education if he will make a statement on the delay in proceeding with the building of the new vocational school in Cavan town; and when sanction will be given to proceed with the work involved.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cavan Vocational School.
20.
As the Deputy will be aware, there was considerable difficulty in obtaining a suitable site for this school and the site which was eventually chosen is at a distance from the other post-primary schools in the town. Recently what seems to be a suitable site has been offered by one of the secondary school authorities. The latter site would have great advantages from the point of view of co-operation between the schools. When this site situation has been resolved, the proposal will be given top priority.
(Cavan): May I take it there is a proposal to move from the site at Tullymongan to somewhere else?
A site has been offered, I understand, in the vicinity of St. Patrick's College.
(Cavan): Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the Vocational Education Committee have not been informed of that?
The site has not yet been sanctioned. It is intended to send down an architect from the Department to consult with the Vocational Education Committee's architect before the site is sanctioned. Therefore, it is presumed they will have an opportunity of considering it.
(Cavan): I am a member of the committee. I am not objecting to this but it is completely news to me. Is it not a fact that detailed plans were submitted in respect of the building of the proposed school at Tullymongan?
That is so.
(Cavan): May I take it that subsequent to the submission of those plans an alternative site has been offered?
I should say that, while the plans were submitted, the two sites which were originally offered were not found to be suitable by the Department's architect.
(Cavan): Surely the second site was approved of?
Not that I am aware of.
(Cavan): Might I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to put the Vocational Education Committee in the picture immediately as to what is happening?
I certainly intend to do that. The Department's architect will consult with the committee's architect.
(Cavan): The Parliamentary Secretary may take it the committee know nothing whatever about this.
We shall inform them.