asked the Minister for Education when extensions and improvements to Coxtown national school, Carrigans, County Donegal, sanctioned over two years ago, will be carried out.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal School.
21.
My Department sanctioned a scheme to erect a general purposes room at Coxtown national school, Carrigans, and to carry out improvements to the school yard. In view of an upward trend in the enrolment it has now been proposed to provide an extra classroom as well as a general purposes room. The Commissioners of Public Works have been asked to furnish a report as to how this extra accommodation may best be provided.
I am unable to say at present when the work will be carried out.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this proposal, or a proposal, was sanctioned more than two years ago, that the Department had investigated it, and is he aware that the proposals now put forward to extend the accommodation are regarded locally as a delaying tactic?
It would be incorrect so to regard it. The Department learned that a good deal more than a general purposes room was required and are taking measures now to implement this wider scheme. Certain difficulties have arisen in relation to the siting of the extra classroom, in regard to the contractor and——
In view of dire urgency, would the Parliamentary Secretary in the meantime proceed with the general purposes room, even if it were to be a pre-fabricated demountable building? In regard to the surfacing of the playground, as an immediate measure pending what may be a long drawn out investigatory process in drawing up new plans which may take up to two years, will the——
Will Deputies please be brief with their supplementaries?
It is a supplementary question. I have tried to keep it brief but even if it is not brief, surely I am entitled to ask a supplementary?
Certainly, but the Chair must try to enable the work to be carried out expeditiously. It is the rules of order.
St. Thérèse said she was sorry she had to write a long letter but she did not have time to write a brief one.
Brevity is very important at Question Time.
Surely what I am urging, an immediate solution to this problem, even if a temporary one——
I understand that the Commissioners of Public Works were asked on 4th March last to furnish a report, and there is no evidence to the effect that there will be any undue delay. As the playground is in a bad condition, the Commissioners have been asked for a report on it as a matter of urgency.
Tar and chips.
When was the decision taken to extend the proposed improvements to the classrooms plus the general purposes room, and can the Parliamentary Secretary indicate why an investigation is now required as to the state of the playground when the scheme was sanctioned two years ago? How come an investigation is required now when it was agreed two years ago?
To answer the latter part of the question first, the inquiry in relation to the playground is not in relation to whether it should be done but how it will be done.
Next question.
I should point out——
I have called the next question.
Costings were got as well as an estimate, agreement and sanction, two years ago. Why the necessity to go through the rigmarole——
We cannot have a debate on it.
I am not trying to debate it. I am pointing out the scandalous conditions in which these children are labouring and the Parliamentary Secretary has not given me a reply. When was it decided to add the additional room?
It is now proposed to provide an extra classroom as well as a general purposes room.
When was that decided?
I do not know.