asked the Minister for Education the reason for the delay in sanctioning approval for the building of an assembly hall at Ard Scoil Rís, North Circular Road, Limerick as this school has 535 pupils and has no hall for either PE classes or assembly which is a major drawback in a school of this size; if she is aware that there is no facility whatever to assemble boys other than in the school yard; if she will have this position corrected as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Limerick Secondary School.
731.
My Department has a large backlog of applications for physical education halls and facilities. It is necessary when funds are being allocated from the capital resources available, that priority be given to the provision of classroom accommodation needs.
In the case of Ard Scoil Rís, Limerick, a planning briefing meeting was held on the 23 May 1985 to initiate the planning of an extension to enable the school to provide for 550 places overall. In relation to the PE hall and facilities included in the schedule of accommodation, my Department are prepared to allow the planning of the hall to proceed as an intergal part of overall planning. However, it will be necessary to take a decision at pre-tender stage, as to whether the hall can be built at the same time as the rest, or whether it will be necessary to phase the construction in the light of capital availability and the Department's commitments and liabilities at that time.