asked the Minister for Education when plans submitted to his Department for an extension to the Patrician Academy will be considered and passed, since pupils may have to be turned away in September if work does not begin shortly.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Patrician Academy Extension.
4.
Officials of my Department visited the school recently in connection with stage 2 of planning — the outline sketch scheme stage — and had discussions with the design team and school manager. It was arranged that certain costings would be furnished to the Department with regard to proposed works of alteration in the existing buildings. When information on these costings has been received the Department will be in contact with the manager without delay.
The outline sketch plans for stage 2 were submitted last November to the Department. I suppose I cannot hold the new Minister of State, whom I congratulate on his appointment, responsible here but I have had this matter across the floor on a few occasions with his predecessor. I claim that the Minister of State's information is misleading because he has not replied to the sketch plans——
A question, Deputy.
——for stage 2 that have been submitted. That is my information.
The information at my disposal here indicates that there was a delay in September 1983 in relation to this school because of a proposal to move to a completely new site. The Department aim to provide a coherent and unified campus. As far as the Department are concerned, when the information and the costings requested come in from the manager he will be contacted immediately.
The school's negotiations with the Department have been on-going for four years. It is deplorable that no progress has been made at this stage.
A question.
The failure of the progress is really at departmental level.
I am sure the Deputy is aware that four prefabricated classrooms and a toilet block were grant-assisted by the Department last summer 12 months. This matter is being attended to as urgently as possible and when the necessary information is submitted to the Department the manager will be contacted without delay.
Is the Minister of State aware that this school in an expanding town, one of the largest towns in east Cork, will have to turn away pupils this year who will be interested in getting a post-primary education? This is an intolerable situation. The prefabricated classrooms mentioned by the Minister of State are nothing like satisfactory and have not given the much needed accommodation.