asked the Minister for Education (a) if the purchase of the site for the Balally Community School, Country Dublin has been completed; (b) if not, the obstacles that remain to be surmounted; and (c) when he expects these obstacles to be overcome, the purchase completed, and work begun.

Negotiations are in process of completion for the purchase of the site for the new community school at Balally, County Dublin. The obstacles remaining are of a formal rather than a substantive nature and it is not anticipated that the planning work will be held up. It is hoped that construction work will be commenced by July 1978.

Though I acknowledge that the Minister, Deputy Wilson, has met a deputation and has given them fairly satisfactory assurances, I should like to know if the negotiations in regard to the purchase of this site are any further advanced than they were two months ago when the deputation came here?

Progress has been made to the extent I have indicated and work will commence on the construction of the school in July of this year.

Even if the acquisition of the site is still somewhat delayed, is there a firm intention to begin work in July?

There is no admission of any delay in the site acquisition. Obviously if the site had not been acquired a school could not be built on it.

I understand there may be good reason for trouble in regard to the acquisition, but are the Department still hoping to start work in July?

Obviously.

Can we take it that the undertaking given by the Minister to the deputation that the school would be opened in the autumn of next year still stands?

Absolutely.

Question No. 21 postponed.