asked the Minister for Education if she will take into consideration, when allocating funds for school building, the expense incurred in planning fees which were incurred from March 1983 when fees were imposed, to January 1984 when the fees were withdrawn.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - School Building Costs.
20.
Where in respect of an approved project a planning fee has been paid by a school authority, my Department regard such fee as part of the capital cost of the development to be taken into account for the purpose of calculation of the grant from the Department in the particular case.
In the unfortunate ten months when fees were being demanded there was a large development in my area and £4,500 was paid. Is the Minister saying that will be taken into account and they will be allowed for it in their grant-in-aid?
In the Department it is regarded as the estimated cost for grant purposes. If a local authority charge a planning fee of £1,000 and if we make grants of nine-tenths available we will be paying nine-tenths of that £1,000. That is the message I want to convey to the Deputy.
This is a large and necessary development due to the withdrawal of the Christian Brothers from St. MacCartan's in County Monaghan. The fee was £4,500. I hope they will not have to pay even one-tenth of that, that it will be written off, and that there will be a complete refund of that £4,500.
I cannot enter into discussions with the Deputy about any specific case. It is purely a matter between the Department and the manager concerned. I could not give any undertaking to the Deputy in relation to any specific school. Any costs involved are taken into account in the grant-aid provided by the Department.
I hope the Minister will give us sympathetic consideration.