asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the serious problem existing in Saint John's College, Le Fanu Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin; if he received details of the problem from the past pupils' union on 21st March, 1977; if he will make a statement in relation to this matter: and the action he proposes to take.

Planning for a major extension to St. John's College, Le Fanu Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin, has been initiated and the manager has been requested to arrange for his consultants to prepare plans.

I received on March 22nd last a communication from the St. John's College Past Pupils' Union, Ballyfermot, in connection with the accommodation at the school.

May we take it that the development of such much-needed facilities as a library, a geography room, a gym, facilities for remedial training and a science laboratory will be provided in the immediate future?

The Deputy may take it that the plans submitted by the manager in question, in consultation with the community, will be examined very carefully in the Department and that there will be no delay in providing any accommodation that is considered necessary and desirable.

Can the Minister give any indication when these longoverdue facilities will be provided? Can he even indicate when the work will commence?

It is not within my power to indicate when the work will start. The planning is being undertaken at present by the community in question and once these plans have been submitted to my Department there will be no delay.

Is the Minister aware that this matter has been in train since the early seventies and would he not agree that in an area such as this where there is a rapidly-increasing population it is necessary and desirable that the basic educational facilities sought will be provided? Having regard to the lack of these facilities, much credit is due to those concerned for the very good work they are doing in this vastly overcrowded school. Can the Minister give any indication of when the work will start?

That indication has been given already. Work will start as soon as the plans have been submitted to the Department and processed.

Has the matter not been under consideration for the past six or seven years?

I do not know about that but no specific plans have been submitted to the Department.

I shall allow the Deputy one final supplementary.

Is the Minister saying that no plans have been submitted in this regard?

Question No. 23.

We have had indications of what is required but no specific plans have been submitted.

Can the Minister give an undertaking that if the plans are submitted there will be no delay in regard to the work.

I have given that undertaking already.

I have called the next question.

Can the Minister foresee the development taking place this year?

Yes, but part of that is outside my control.

23.

asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the serious problems of the following schools of the Dominican Convent, Ballyfermot, Dublin; St. Michael's infants boys' school, St. Gabriel's infants girls' school, St. Gabriel's (2) infants' girls' school, St. Raphael's (I) primary school and St. Raphael's (II) primary school; if he will relieve the problem by (a) increasing the capitation grants and (b) reducing the pupil/teacher ratio; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I am aware of the problems that the schools mentioned in the Deputy's question have, in common with many other schools.

I regret that it is not possible for me to make special concessions in the case of these schools in the matter of the capitation grants for maintenance or the pupil/teacher ratio.

In relation to the primary schools at the Dominican Convent, can the Minister indicate the extent of the capitation grant paid in relation to each pupil in that school?

It is the same as the general capitation grant which is £6 per head.

Is this £6 subject to £1.50 being collected in respect of each pupil?

The Deputy would need to be more precise. The community in the area contribute £1.50 per pupil. This is not collected from the pupils but from the community in general.

The Minister indicated that this burden of £1.50 must be collected before the £6 is paid. Is that the position?

No, the £6 is paid and a further £1.50 is collected by the board of management of the school.

If the board are unable to collect £1.50 per pupil, what is the situation with regard to the capitation grant?

In this case they have not been unable to collect the money.

If the board are unable to collect £1.50 or any money per pupil, will the capitation grant be paid?

We must avoid repetition.

The cost of maintenance in a school is reckoned to be £7.50 per pupil of which the Government contribute £6 and a further £1.50 is a charge on the local community which they are meant to collect. I could not allow any one area to opt out of that collection without having a situation arise where every other school would do the same. If that sum is not collected the school will be at a disadvantage with other schools because they will have only four-fifths of the amount of money available to other schools.

The Minister is saying that £6 will be paid, irrespective of whether——

No, I am not.

Then the £6 will not be paid unless they collect £1.50. Is that correct?

I will have to look at the circumstances in each case. I would not be prepared to give a guarantee that if the £1.50 was not collected the £6 would be paid. The rule is that the capitation for each school amounts to £7.50 of which £6 will be paid by the State and a further £1.50 by the community.

Can I take it that the £6 may not be paid in some cases if the £1.50 is not collected?

The Deputy can take it from me that the Department would be extremely slow to pay the £6 unless they saw a willingness on the part of the local community to support their schools.

These questions cannot go on interminably.

A final and very important question.

I have given the Deputy a lot of latitude.

Is the Minister aware that many people consider this an unconstitutional imposition? Free education is guaranteed——

The Deputy is entering another area.

Is the Minister aware that the conditional qualification introduced by the previous Minister for Education is regarded by many people as unconstitutional?

This is an extension of the question.

People are beginning to realise that schools in their areas are their responsibility. Most of them see this very clearly and are anxious to make this contribution to ensure that they have a say in the running of the schools.

Teachers now have to devote their time to fund raising rather than teaching.

A brief question from Deputy Wilson.

Will the Minister agree that his predecessor succeeded in having £1 extra per caput added to the £6 in last year's Book of Estimates in view of the fact that inflation had eroded the value of the £6? Would he also agree that this was not spent on capitation and would he see that it is restored as quickly as possible?

I am anxious to see capitation increased in national schools as quickly as possible but I could not give any guarantee as to the extent of that increase or when it will come into effect.