asked the Minister for Education the progress that has been made in the provision of secondary school buildings in Athy, County Kildare.

The provision of two new schools on a common site in Athy has been approved in principle. Preliminary planning will be initiated as soon as agreement is reached with the school authorities regarding the number of pupil places to be provided. I understand that the school managers concerned are forwarding a submission on this point for my Department's consideration.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the problem of school buildings for secondary education in Athy has been in existence for ten years? It is over ten years since this problem of school buildings for secondary education in Athy was first mooted. I realise that the people there decided they did not want a community school—I accept that that decision was taken at a certain stage—but seemingly no progress has been made since.

A considerable amount of progress has been made in the recent past in relation to this matter.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary endeavour to indicate what is that progress?

We have arrived at the stage now where agreement has been reached for the provision of two new schools on a common site, which is an agreement in principle. The problem now is simply to reach agreement on the number of pupil places overall to be provided which is essentially a technical question. The problems in principle have now been satisfactorily solved as far as all parties are concerned. That, to my mind, is very considerable progress.

Kathleen Mavourneen; it may be for years and it may be for ever.

Question No. 26.

Not at all. The matter is now in the hands of the local parties who intend to submit an estimate to the Department of their views as to the total number of places necessary and when that is received a decision can be reached.