asked the Minister for Education when it is proposed to provide a new national school at Granard, County Longford to replace the present school which is in a building over 100 years old.

A grant has been sanctioned by my Department for the erection of a new national school to replace the existing Granard Convent National School.

The arrangements for the erection of the school are in the hands of the Commissioners of Public Works and it is anticipated that the contract will be placed in the near future.

I should like to tell the Parliamentary Secretary that his Lordship, Dr. Daly, has made his own arrangements so far as finance is concerned. Would the Parliamentary Secretary tell me precisely when the erection of this school will start?

I understand that when the local contribution has been received in the Office of Public Works the commissioners will be in a position to place the contract. In view of what the Deputy says that could be very quickly.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that I got an answer to a letter from his Department recently which had an implication that the people were falling down on the local contribution and this was what was holding up the school?

I am not aware of that. In view of what Deputy Sheridan has said, I do not imagine there will be any great difficulty.

For the information of the Parliamentary Secretary and the House that contribution has already been paid.

I am not aware of that.

The Parliamentary Secretary is not aware of that. He would not know.

He would not know, full stop.