Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 28 Feb 1991

Vol. 405 No. 8

Written Answers. - Schools Merger.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

62 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the commitment given to the boards of management of St. Kevin's primary school and St. Kevin's infants' school on 18 January 1990 that improvements would be made to St. Kevin's primary school to facilitate the merger of the two schools; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that agreement was reached with her officials on 5 July 1990 on a list of 11 items of repairs and alterations and that this work has not yet been carried out; and if she will give an assurance that the agreed works will be carried out between now and 1 September 1991 so that the schools can be merged.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I am aware of the situation in relation to St. Kevin's Boys' national school, St. Kevin's Girls' national school and the associated infants school.

Agreement was reached between my Department and the schools' authorities for a scheme of improvement works to facilitate the amalgamation of the schools. However, when the architectural planning for the works was put in hands it emerged that additional works would be necessary. The preparation of the detailed working drawings is now well advanced and these will be completed at the earliest possible date. They will then be sent to the school authorities to enable them to seek by-law approval. Because there are a number of factors outside the control of my Department in the case of projects like this, I am unable to say precisely, at this point, when works will be commenced or completed.