asked the Minister for Education if he has sanctioned a grant for the extension of the Sacred Heart School, Westport, County Mayo.

I recently approved, in principle, the provision of an extension of the Sacred Heart Secondary School, Westport, and have arranged for an inspection of the school buildings by my Department's architect to establish what the extent of the requirements is.

Will the Minister indicate if it is proposed to make a grant available for the proposed extension to the school and when he is likely to make a decision on the matter?

The application has been referred to the building unit's architect who has been asked to inspect the building with a view to initiating physical planning. This follows a meeting which I had with the Sisters in March of this year. A grant will be made available and it should go ahead reasonably soon after the inspection has been made. After our architect inspects the building the manager's architect will have to draw up the plans. They will be submitted to my Department and after that the project can go ahead.

May I take it that the Minister has accepted in principle the proposal to provide funds for this extension?

Yes. I told the Sisters so in March.

Will the Minister state when the money will be made available?

The architects from my Department will go to inspect the buildings and see what is required. They will indicate that to the manager who, in turn, will employ her own architect to draw up the final plans which will be submitted to the Department. When that is approved, the job will go for tender.

Can the Minister give an approximate date for that?

I cannot do that. As I said before, there are elements outside the control of my Department. It is in the hands of the manager.