Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 4 Dec 1990

Vol. 403 No. 4

Written Answers. - County Sligo National School.

Edward Nealon

Ceist:

85 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that (a) plans have been drawn up on behalf of her Department for an enlarged general purposes hall in Rathcormac national school, County Sligo (b) that such a hall is a very badly needed amenity for the school (c) the extra space is needed for certain classroom use and (d) the local community have, through contributions and a variety of fund raising activities, succeeded in collecting a major contribution towards the cost of the hall; if, in view of these facts, she intends to proceed with the construction of the hall; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I am aware of the situation in relation to Rathcormac National School, County Sligo. I accept that sketch plans had been completed some years ago which provided for an enlarged general purposes room. However it was not possible for this project to proceed because the policy adopted in relation to the Primary Schools Building Programme required that the available resources be concentrated on the provision of essential classroom accommodation.

When in 1989 the extension was being proposed the school authorities fully understood that the new GP facility would not be grant-aided and the modified project went ahead on this basis.