asked the Minister for Education the name and location of the post-primary schools to be provided with community/sports hall facilities; when work will commence and be completed; and the estimated cost per school.

7.

asked the Minister for Education the number of applicants for gymnasium sports halls in second level schools, the number and location of schools approved for such facilities, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together.

The schools at which I have approved the provision of physical education halls are as follows: The Donahies Community School, Dublin; Birr Community School; Springfield Community School, Tallaght; Old Bawn Community School, County Dublin; Bishopstown Community School, Cork; Cabinteely Community School, Dublin; Lisduggan Vocational School, Waterford; Moneenageisha Vocational School, Galway; Knocknaheeny Vocational School, Cork; Monaghan Vocational School; Ringsend Vocational School, Dublin; Donegal Town Vocational School; Mitchelstown Vocational School, County Cork.

Planning for the construction of buildings is under way but it is not possible to give a precise date for the commencement of the building work at this stage. I expect, however, that the work will be completed within the next 12 to 15 months. In view of the fact that tenders will be sought in due course for the placing of contracts I would not consider it appropriate to make a statement in advance in relation to estimates of cost.

The number of applications for physical education halls received by 1 December 1979 was 117.

Can I infer from what the Minister has said that no money is being spent on the provision of sports halls in the current financial period?

I would not say that. The position is that the provision of these halls—I prefer to call them physical education halls for very sound and valid reasons—was suspended in 1975. There is a big backlog and we are trying to get the best possible value from the contractors in the construction of them.

Will the Minister tell the House why secondary schools were not included in the list he read out? Will the Minister state when the backlog will be dealt with so that new applications can be considered?

All the secondary schools that have applied have been listed. They are being considered in the Department and we will have an announcement to make very soon on those that will be given priority in that area. There are several considerations, including the possibility of community usage of the physical education halls, that have to be taken into account.

When will the backlog be dealt with so that current applications can be considered?

I cannot put a date for dealing with the backlog because, as everybody is aware, the backlog is substantial. It is my intention that all new schools of a certain size, and where certain conditions are fulfilled, will have physical education halls for the reasons I gave already. We have physical education teachers, trained in a superb physical education college, and a physical education teacher without such a hall is like a scientist without a laboratory. That is my thesis.

Does the Minister expect the backlog to be dealt with in 1980?

I am not in the prophesying business.

Perhaps the Minister will take it up with the gentleman sitting next to him?

We will have to be nice to him.

Will the Minister explain, to satisfy the curiosity of the people in the school concerned, how it came about that the initial list of schools which he supplied to me by way of letter did not include the name of the Cabinteely Community School, which is now apparently to get a sports hall?

Am I to take it that the Deputy does not want a physical education hall in Cabinteely?

Indeed, the Minister may not.

I understand that Deputies Horgan, Andrews and O'Donoghue wrote to me about this on various occasions.

I wrote to the Minister about it on one occasion.

It was an excellently written letter.

I am curious to know what changed the Minister's mind. Did I change the Minister's mind?

No.

I wrote to the Minister about this matter also and Deputies Andrews and O'Donoghue did not get much thanks for writing to the Minister.

I like receiving correspondence.

Is there any special criteria which the Minister adopts in relation to the granting of finance for sports halls for community and vocational schools?

I will be answering a question from Deputy Horgan about that later.

Have secondary schools not as much right to equal consideration for sports halls and gymnasia as have community and vocational schools?

The Minister would so consider.

I hope he will implement that.

I am dealing with an area which has been neglected for so long but I cannot do everything over night. I am doing my best, as the Deputy knows. The Deputy should have shouted in 1975 when the whole thing ceased.

It has not started yet.

8.