asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to efforts being made by a number of people to establish a multi-denominational primary school in the south Dublin city area and that they have attempted to purchase from parish authorities the former national school now no longer used in Milltown, Dublin 6; if she will ensure that the parish authorities who own the school and who were in receipt of substantial State funds in the past would be prepared to ensure that this building be sold at a reasonable price to the promoters of the multi-denominational primary school project; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Dublin Multi-Denominational School Project.
28.
I am not in a position to ensure that the owners of the former national school premises referred to by the Deputy would sell the premises to the people concerned with the establishment of a multi-denominational primary school. It would be a matter for the people concerned to deal direct with the owners and/or trustees of the premises in question.
The position generally is that national schools are held under an arrangement whereby trustees hold the school premises under a standard form of lease from the owners and undertake to conduct a national school thereon. State grants represent only part of the cost of providing the building and are not payable in respect of the acquisition of the site for school purposes. In that situation people wishing to acquire the premises must deal with the owners and/or trustees and it is not open to me or my Department to direct how the premises should be disposed of.