asked the Minister for Education if he will state the reasons for the delay in the building of Clonrye national schools.

The Department has sanctioned a grant towards the cost of the provision of this new school and the arrangements for the erection of the building are in the hands of the Commissioners of Public Works. Investigations are at present being made regarding the feasibility of effecting certain modifications in the original design with a view to providing improved amenities for the new school, and it will not be possible to invite tenders for the work of construction until a decision in the matter of these modifications has been arrived at, and until any necessary alterations in the plans of the school have been carried out. Every effort will be made to expedite the case so as to enable building operations to be proceeded with as soon as possible.

Will the Minister give me an assurance that it will be unnecessary for me to raise this matter again? It is now one and a half years since I raised the matter before and the Minister gave me an assurance then that the matter would be dealt with expeditiously, but it does not appear to have been.

If the Deputy was more closely in touch with the conditions locally, it would not be necessary for him to ask for any such assurance. The Deputy ought to be satisfied with the answer which is given in a perfectly bona fide spirit.

The only thing I am concerned with as far as local conditions are concerned is the utterly insanitary state of the schools.

I am concerned with seeing that everything possible is done both by the Department and the Board of Works to improve the condition of these schools.