asked the Minister for Finance if he will state when arrangements regarding the addition to Rhode national school, County Offaly will be placed with a building contractor, as it is overcrowded at present and many new pupils are awaiting enrolment.

Tenders received for the extension of this school are being considered but problems arising from the tendering require to be clarified. These are being dealt with as expeditiously as possible and it is hoped that a decision will be reached in the next few weeks.

Is it true that tenders for the provision of an addition to Rhode national school were received in his Department last March? In view of the fact that the school is overcrowded and that they have got sanction for an extra teacher and because from 1st July, the school will not be able to take new students due to overcrowding, would the Minister not be justified in going ahead and sanctioning a tender so that work can begin?

I am informed that the position arising from tendering is complicated by the fact that a number of those who tendered have contracts on hand or pending at present which creates difficulties in respect of their capability to execute the contract even if it were now awarded to them. These matters are being processed as expeditiously as possible because the Minister for Education is most anxious that this extension and improvement can proceed as quickly as possible and this will be done.

Does the Minister not realise that saying that in the context of a tender that is in the Department for three months does not give any great impression of expedition?

The Deputy will appreciate that where you have a number of tenders and complexity of this kind—a number of contracts other than this involved—one has to resolve a conflict as regards the timing of execution of the different contracts. I can appreciate the anxiety of all concerned—and that includes the Minister for Education and the Board of Works—to get ahead with this work but nothing is being left undone in the Office of Public Works to expedite this job. Sanction was granted by the Department of Education in May, 1974. The problem is about to be resolved in the next couple of weeks.

Is it not the case that it is held up because there is no money available?

That is not the case and the Deputy knows that.