asked the Minister for Education if she intends sanctioning finance for the provision of an extension to Baconstown national school, north Enfield, County Meath, in 1988; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Baconstown (Meath) National School.
10.
Because of the pressure on the capital funds available in 1988 to my Department for their national schools building programme, I would not be in a position to sanction finance for the provision of the extension proposed to Baconstown national school, County Meath. This project envisaged the extension and adaptation of the existing school building whereby four classrooms and a general purposes area would be provided. I can inform the Deputy, however, that recent discussions took place with representatives of the school during which a lesser scheme designed to cater for the immediate accommodation needs of the school was suggested. The proposal is being examined by my Department's professional advisers and a decision will be conveyed to the school authorities in due course as to whether it may be possible to proceed for grant purposes along the lines of the modified scheme, and whether finance is likely to be available for it during the current financial year.
Will the Minister give a commitment that the modified revisions will be accepted and grant aided? It would be very unfair if the people were asked to pay £20,000, with only a small contribution, if any, coming from the Department. The Minister has said that the modified revised plan may not be grant aided. When replying to a similar question earlier, he said he was looking at the overall question of modifying the building of simpler schools at reduced cost. In that case, these people should be helped by grant aid. Will the Minister agree that the children have to cross the road to get to part of the school and that this is unacceptable? Will the Minister provide finance, however small, in 1988?
As the Deputy has indicated these children must cross a busy road several times a day to go to the toilet. It is significant that this project had only reached sketch plan stage, a very early stage of planning, when I took over and became acquainted with the problems of this school.
Do not blame somebody else. The Minister has been doing that for the past 12 months.
I am putting the matter in context.
The Minister should tell us whether he will give grant aid.
Let us hear the reply.
The Deputy must face up to what the problem is. Discussions have taken place with a view to providing accommodation which will be satisfactory in the short term. Proposals are being considered in my Department and it is our intention to provide a solution to this problem as quickly as possible.
The Minister did not state whether he would grant aid the modified plan that may be agreed. Will the Department grant aid the modified plan for this school if it is agreed by the board of management and the Department?
Yes.