Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 13 Jun 1991

Vol. 409 No. 8

Written Answers. - Ashbourne (County Meath) School.

Séamus Pattison

Ceist:

62 Mr. Pattison asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the fact that (1) Ashbourne is, after Navan, the largest centre of population in County Meath, (2) it has no second level school, (3) it has been calculated that 1,000 second level students are leaving the area each day to attend schools elsewhere and (4) the provision of a second level school for 800 students was approved by the then Minister for Education in 1982, she will outline whether the tender for the building of the Ashbourne second level school will be advertised and awarded in the next few months, and that sufficient money will be set aside in the 1991 capital budget so that a significant amount of the building work can be completed before the end of the year; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Dick Spring

Ceist:

87 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to ensure that the current delay in relation to the proposed Ashbourne second level school is resolved; when the tender for the building of the school will be advertised; and if an allocation has been made to allow for the early commencement of the building of the school.

John V. Farrelly

Ceist:

89 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Education when work will commence on the building of Ashbourne second level school, County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

John Bruton

Ceist:

92 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education when she expects work by her Department's design team on the bill of quantities for the second level school in Ashbourne, County Meath to be completed; whether tenders will be advertised for the second level school building before the end of this month; and if she expects work on the second level school building to commence before the end of the year.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 62, 87, 89 and 92 together.

The planning of the proposed new community school at Ashbourne, County Meath, is proceeding most satisfactorily. Progress by the design team is being closely monitored by my Department and it is expected that the completed bill of quantities will be submitted shortly by the consultant quantity surveyor for examination.