asked the Minister for Education if he will expedite the much needed exension to Puckane national school, County Tipperary.
15.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Couny Tipperary School.
14.
asked the Minister for Education when it is proposed to commence building the additional accommodation for Kiladangan (Puckane) national school. Nenagh, County Tipperary.
Mr. R. Burke
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together.
My Department have asked the Office of Public Works to furnish proposals for the extension of Puckane national school as speedily as possible. When the report is received the further stages of the project will be expedited.
Is the Minister aware that, in view of the local authority housing programme and in view of other developments in the area, it is anticipated that there will be an increase of approximately 50 pupils in the coming year? If the Minister is so aware, how does he propose to deal with that?
Mr. R. Burke
A general purpose room was built in 1973 and as soon as it was erected it was decided to use it as a classroom to accommodate the teacher and pupils from Carney national school as that was being amalgamated in the Kiladangan school. This means that although the school is larger than before amalgamation, it has not got any general purposes room. As the Deputy says, there is some new building in the area and, therefore, it is likely that the population will increase and that there will be a need for some further accommodation. The Department consider that a total of five classrooms, together with a general purpose room of appropriate size, are required to meet the future needs of the school. The Commissioners of Public Works were asked on 23rd December to furnish a report setting out their proposals for a scheme to provide five suitable classrooms, a teacher's room, and a general purposes room of 900 square feet, together with an estimate of the cost for grant purposes. As the House will hear in a moment, representations were received from Deputy John Ryan and the Office of Public Works have been asked to deal with the case as speedily as possible.
Commercial No. 2.
Deputy John Ryan.
Arising out of the Minister's reply——
The Chair has called another Deputy.
My question was submitted in advance of Deputy Ryan's question.
Sorry, Deputy O'Kennedy. I have called another Deputy.
My question was down in advance of Deputy Ryan's question and I am entitled to pursue it.
Please, Deputy. Will the Chair be obeyed?
With your permission, Sir, and with the permission of Deputy O'Kennedy, I should like to ask a supplementary question. In view of the existing overcrowding, and in view of the developments outlined by Deputy O'Kennedy, I would ask the Minister to contact the Office of Public Works and ask them to deal with this matter urgently, because the people in the area are very concerned about the situation there at the moment.
Mr. R. Burke
The Office of Public Works have been asked to do this work as speedily as possible.
In view of the urgency which the Minister has now acknowledged, will he try to ensure that, when this matter is brought to his attention again, there will not be a delay of eight months before his Department reply to the manager as there was on the last occasion? Will the Minister ensure that at least the courtesy of an acknowledgement will be given to the manager?
Mr. R. Burke
It is normal for the Department to respond courteously and as quickly as possible.
The Minister had indicated that the matter was referred to the Commissioners of Public Works some time in December. This matter was lying in the Department for months without any reply being sent to the manager. Will the Minister ensure that this will not happen again?
The Deputy is now giving information rather than seeking it.