asked the Minister for Education the present position regarding the proposed extension to St. Saran's post-primary school in Ferbane; and if she will make a statement on the likely time-scale for this development.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ferbane (Offaly) School Extension.
15.
Architectural planning of the proposed extension to St. Saran's post-primary school, Ferbane, has been completed and the bills of quantities found to be satisfactory.
Pending the completion of a review of the building programme for second level schools in the context of capital availability, commitments and priorities, I am not in a position to say when St. Saran's may be released for the seeking of tenders.
Is the Minister of State aware that there is a very great need for this extension to this school in Ferbane? Is the Minister aware also that the people in charge have been making repeated representations about it? Could the Minister give any projected timescale at least for the commencement of the work involved?
I could not give the Deputy a date for the commencement of work. This school, together with others, will be examined within the next week. Whether or not the position then will be that it will be allowed to proceed to tender is another matter. At present we have the bills of quantity, we have accepted them as being in order, the next stage would be to go to tender and this would be dependent on the priority we would be establishing in relation to schools. I will be examining it over the next week when I will have a decision as to whether this will proceed to tender.
Then the appropriate time is now to press the case if there is to be a decision taken within a week. Might I ask the Minister to give St. Saran's post-primary school in Ferbane urgent attention within the next week?
Of course, the Deputy can ask me, there is no problem about that——
But the Minister of State should make sure he does so.
But I must say that there are many more schools equally in need of urgent attention and that is the reason we will be examining them over the coming week. I will look at Ferbane and will communicate a decision to the Deputy within the next week.