asked the Minister for Education why the provision in the capital budget for vocational school building and for regional and other technical colleges has been decreased while the provision for secondary, comprehensive and community schools has been increased; and if he will give a detailed breakdown of the works being provided for in each case.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Building Programme.
14.
The estimate of the provision required is calculated with reference to demand and to the volume of work in progress in the case of each category of school at the relevant time.
The original provision in 1977 in the case of vocational schools was £2,500,000. This amount was augmented during the course of the year bringing it to £3,200,000 in March 1977. I allocated £800,000 extra later in 1977. It has been estimated that the amount required in 1978 is £3,900,000.
Is the Minister aware that there is a rash of prefabricated buildings throughout the country that are totally unsuited for the purpose of teaching, and can he tell us what are his plans to have this blight eradicated from our land?
I agree that there is a rash of prefabricated buildings serving as schools in all categories. I agree also that their removal and replacement by permanent structures is desirable. It will be the purpose of my Department to make progress as quickly as possible within the bounds of the amounts available to us.