asked the Minister for Education what proposals he has sanctioned for the development and improvement of vocational education in County Offaly by way of extra accommodation and new buildings; if he will state the total cost of such proposals; and when work will commence.

I have sanctioned proposals for the erection of a new vocational school at Clara and for the extension of Banagher, Ferbane and Birr vocational schools. The total cost of these projects is estimated at £52,000.

It is expected that unless unforeseen difficulties occur, work on the Banagher and Ferbane projects will commence in the very near future and that work on Clara school will commence next Autumn. The Birr project is at a preliminary stage of planning and it is not possible to forecast when building work may commence.

Would the Minister consider that consultation with officers of his Department would be necessary in the case of the Clara school? Does he realise that the people of Clara, as well as the County Offaly Vocational Education Committee, were promised that Clara would be given special priority? Every effort should be made to have the work carried out there as early as possible.

Clara is getting the priority.

Deputy Egan says Clara is getting the priority, but the Minister says it is not. Could the Minister clarify the position for us? I understood the Minister to say that the Clara school will not commence until next Autumn.

It will commence next Autumn.

The other works will commence before it?

"At an early date" is what I said as far as they are concerned.

Deputy O. J. Flanagan is getting very busy all of a sudden.

Keep out of it. Clara deserves consideration. Messrs. Goodbody have been pressing for a vocational school in this town for many years.

What was Deputy O.J. Flanagan doing when he had the power to do it?

Will the Minister undertake to have special consideration given in the case of Clara and to have the programme commenced with the least possible delay?

That was the position before the Deputy asked me about it.