asked the Minister for Education if the examination of the preliminary tender report for Ballymote Convent of Mercy secondary school, County Sligo, building project has been completed; if her Department have been in contact with the school authorities regarding the submission of the final tender reports; if money will be provided to enable work on the extension to commence as soon as these preliminaries have been completed; and if, in view of the urgent need for this extra accommodation, she will give the estimated date when contractors can commence work.
Written Answers. - County Sligo Schools.
593.
The examination of the preliminary tender report has been completed but before the project can proceed to final tender report stage it has to be reviewed in the context of the capital resources available. Accordingly, it is not possible at present to give any indications regarding further progress on this project.
594.
asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the amalgamation of Banada girls' national school, Ballymote, County Sligo, with Banada boys national school and the major savings which will accrue to her Department, she intends to meet the needs of the children in the amalgamated centre and the strong wishes of the parents to have a general purposes room provided; and, if so, whether this approval will be given in sufficient time to enable the general purposes room to be built in time for the opening of the next school year.
The Department has agreed to the amalgamation of Banada boys' and girls' national schools. The amalgamated school will be a two-teacher one with above 50 pupils. A school of this size does not qualify for the provision of a general purposes room. My Department has under consideration representations made by the school authorities for a limited type of facility to serve as a lunch room and for other purposes.
This will require consultation with another State Department and bodies under their aegis. My Department will communicate with the school authorities as soon as inquiries have been completed.