asked the Minister for Education if he will sanction the building of a new secondary school at Oughterard, County Galway, to accommodate 300 pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

My Department have approved in principle the provision of additional new permanent school accommodation in St. Paul's secondary school in Oughterard to enable the school to accept up to 225 pupils. It is considered that this accommodation should meet the second level education needs of the area for the foreseeable future.