asked the Minister for Education when it is expected that plans will be sufficiently advanced for the commencement of the building of the new primary school at Ballincollig, County Cork.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork School.
27.
Mr. R. Burke
A grant has recently been sanctioned towards the cost of erecting a new primary school at Ballincollig. It is now a matter for the manager's architect, in consultation with the Office of Public Works, to make the necessary arrangements for the erection of the school.
It is not possible to say at present when the building of the school will commence.
Is the Minister aware of the urgency of this situation? Is he aware that a recent fact-finding campaign conducted by the community association found that there were 785 children between the ages of 1 and 4 in the area and that in the time that has elapsed since then, the figure is now, perhaps, approaching the 1,000 mark? Would the Minister ensure that urgent attention is given to the situation in Ballincollig?
Mr. R. Burke
A grant was sanctioned on 5th April of this year towards the cost of the erection of a new school. So far as I am concerned I will expedite the matter during my term of office.
Surely it is the function of the Minister to ensure that adequate primary school facilities are available in a growing community. I would ask him to give particular attention to the date of the commencement of the building of this new school.
Mr. R. Burke
I appreciate the Deputy's concern but I would point out that the preparation of drawings, bills of quantity, et cetera, are matters for the manager's architect and for the Office of Public Works.