asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date position regarding the erection of a new national school at Castlehaven, Skibbereen, County Cork and the expected date of completion.

It is proposed to replace Castlehaven school by a new school.

The site recently offered for the new school was not considered suitable by the Commissioners of Public Works and the school authorities have been asked to arrange for an alternative site.

Has the Minister any information why the site was declared to be unsuitable?

The Office of Public Works are the professional organisation to assess sites for the Department of Education. In their professional capacity they reported to the Department and they turned it down flat.

Is there any possibility of work being done on the site that would render it suitable?

I do not think so. I underlined in the back-up notes before me that recently the Commissioners confirmed the site was not suitable for the proposed new school and the school management have been advised to get a new site.