asked the Minister for Education if he will give particulars of the steps that are being taken by his Department to provide new and better school accommodation and in particular, if he will state the building programme envisaged for 1951.

It is the constant endeavour of my Department, so far as circumstances allow, to provide new and better school accommodation throughout the country, particularly in those cases in which existing buildings are in urgent need of replacement or reconditioning, or where new schools are required for recently developed areas. Reference to the Department's annual reports, to the Volumes of Estimates and to my opening statements introducing the Estimates will give some indication of the progress being made.

The requirements for the financial year beginning on the 1st April, 1951, are at present under consideration, but it is not possible for me, at the moment, to say what amount will be placed at my disposal for the allocation of building grants or at the disposal of the Commissioners of Public Works for the actual expenditure on school building.