Vol. 327 No. 3
asked the Minister for Education (a) when he received a proposal to erect an extension to the technical school at Nobber, County Meath; (b) when he sanctioned the extension; (c) when finance will be made available; and (d) when it is expected that the work will commence on the school.
2.
asked the Minister for Education the facilities to be provided at Nobber vocational school, County Meath, in accordance with the developed sketch scheme for an extension to the school which was under examination by his Department's building unit on 3 July 1979; when he communicated the outcome of the examination to Meath VEC as indicated in his reply to a parliamentary question on 3 July 1979; and when he expects work on the extension to commence.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions No. 1 and 2 together.
The proposal to extend Nobber vocational school was received in February 1976. At that stage, however, the planning of the project was deferred because of prior commitments for new schools and extensions. Planning was recommended early in 1978 and is now well advanced.
The number of pupil places to be provided in the school has been under review and, pending the completion of such review, it has not been possible to communicate a decision to the vocational education committee in regard to the sketched plan referred to in my reply to the parliamentary question on 3 July 1979.
Completion of the necessary preliminary arrangements leading to the placing of a contract is being expedited.
Would the Minister say if the school which he proposed to erect in Kingscourt, County Cavan, has any bearing on the delay in the Nobber school? Did his statement that Kingscourt school would be started without delay mean it is going to start now and that Nobber school will be started at a later date?
No, it will not delay the building of Nobber school.
Could the Minister give an approximate date on which the extension to Nobber school is likely to be started?
I cannot give the Deputy a date.
Is the money available this year?
I am speeding it up.
I thank the Minister for the information, but I have one final supplemantary question. Would the Minister say if the money has been earmarked for Nobber school this year?
Yes.
May I ask the Minister if the accommodation to be provided as envisaged in the original sketch scheme, which was under examination in his Department in July 1979, has been modified in any way by the decision which he has taken in regard to the provision of a vocational school at Kingscourt?
I call the Deputy's attention to a report in a well-known journal, The Meath Chronicle, where the chief education officer who is the expert, says that Nobber is not likely to be affected.
Is it not the case that the chief executive officer, in the report to which the Minister refers, said that, in fact. Nobber would be affected, perhaps not in the first stage of its development but that in the second stage of its development the Minister's decision would have an adverse effect.
No, he said "might", which is a total hypothesis.
Would the Minister answer the original question I asked? Is the schedule of accommodation as envisaged in the original sketch scheme likely to be in any sense modified as a result of the Minister's decision in regard to Kingscourt?
As the Deputy heard in my answer, the plans are being made in the light of all the education circumstances at present.
That implies there is a change being made.
As the CEO said, it will have no effect.
