Vol. 469 No. 6
156 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Education when she will respond to an application for water and sewerage services for existing pre-fabricated accommodation at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 16 which was originally submitted to her Department 20 months ago; her views on whether the lack of these basis services is acceptable; if she will give a clear timetable for the regularisation of this scandal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18071/96]
My Department has received a request for grant-aid towards the cost of installing toilet facilities in the pre-fabricated block at the school referred to by the Deputy. The application is currently under consideration in the light of a report from the Office of Public Works and a decision will be taken in the matter within the next two weeks. The school manager will be notified of the outcome without delay.
157 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the need for urgent classroom accommodation for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 16; her views regarding the situation where there is an existing approval from her Department for a prefabricated building but this building has not been provided; her further views on whether the remedial room which is smaller than a full size classroom should be used by children requiring remedial attention rather than for normal classroom use as it is at present with space so confined that schoolbags have to be left in the corridors which has health and safety implications; her further views on whether the library, currently used for remedial teaching, should be available to the children during all school hours; her views regarding the future projections for the school which show three years where an extra classroom will be needed over and above the accommodation currently used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18072/96]
I am aware of the need for additional classroom accommodation at the school referred to by the Deputy. In order to meet this need my Department approved grant-aid in June 1996 towards the cost of one additional pre-fabricated classroom at the school. The planning process for the provision of the additional classroom is now at an advanced stage. However, this process cannot proceed for the moment as the school's management recently applied for grant-aid towards the cost of a second additional classroom. The need for this second classroom is currently under consideration by my Department's planning section in the light of the future trend of enrolments at the school. As soon as a decision is taken the school manager will be notified of the outcome without delay. My Department's architectural staff will then continue with the planning process. It is expected that the provision of additional classroom accommodation will address the problem currently being experienced with regard to the remedial and library rooms.
