Vol. 402 No. 7
43 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if finance is available for the provision of a hard surface play area at Newtown national school, Enfield, County Kildare; if similar work has been funded in other areas in the current year; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Capital grants are available from my Department for the provision of hard play areas at national schools in accordance with certain criteria. I have arranged for my Department's architect to examine the question of the provision of an appropriate hard play-area at Newtown national school, County Kildare. On receipt of the architect's report the question of the sanction of a grant will be considered, and a decision conveyed to the school authorities promptly.
44 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide the necessary finance for the provision of a general purpose room at Tiermohan national school, Donadea, Naas, County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
In accordance with the policy I have adopted since 1987 the available capital resources for the primary schools building programme must be concentrated on the provision of classrooms and other necessary facilities. For this reason it is not possible to grant-aid the provision of a general purposes room at Tiermohan national school, Naas, County Kildare.
Substantial progress has been achieved on the primary schools building programme in recent years and this would not have been possible had the provision of general purposes rooms been grant-aided.
The school authorities have requested the provision of a staff room and this will be given sympathetic consideration and a decision conveyed to them at an early date.
