asked the Minister for Education when construction of the new Dublin dental hospital at Merrion Road will commence; and if he will ensure that the plans for the building will not necessitate the demolition of residential property near the site with the resultant displacement of a number of families.

The Dublin Dental Hospital Board has recently made application to the town planning authorities for outline planning permission to erect a new dental hospital on a site in the Merrion Road area. As the decision of the town planning authorities on the application has not yet been given, I am unable to say when construction of the new hospital may commence.

I am advised that the erection of the new dental hospital on the site, which is the subject of the Board's application, would not involve the demolition of any family residential property.