andMr. Keaveney asked the Minister for Education whether any progress has been made towards the provision of a new national school at Drumkeen, County Donegal.

As I stated in my reply on 24th March last the Commissioners of Public Works have been asked to furnish a report on the feasibility of adapting and extending the existing Drumkeen national school to provide additional accommodation as an alternative to the erection of an entirely new school. The commissions have indicated that an inspection of the school will be necessary and that it is intended to carry out this inspection at an early date.

Is the Minister aware that the present school and site are totally inadequate, that the site is extremely dangerous and that there is no point in the Department wasting time seeking to reconstruct and extend the school? It is just an abomination and cannot ever be anything else.

There is an excellent site available just beside the church, and the Minister and his Department should go after it before it is snapped up for some other purpose.

The Commissioners of Public Works are inspecting the school and will furnish a report on it. I understand that at this stage their information is not the same as the Deputy's that they consider it to be possible to extend the existing school rather than provide an entirely new school. However, if their report comes down in favour of a new school, then it will be provided.

Might I ask the Minister to ensure that his Department take a very careful look at the total unsuitability of this site? It is absolutely crazy to spend another penny on it.

The Deputy will understand that in matters such as this our experts would be the Commissioners of Public Works.

Under the direction of the Minister's proposition——

Question No. 11