asked the Minister for Education if he will indicate a timescale for the phased development of the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick; and if he will give details of the development plan to be commenced in 1981.

17.

asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the urgent need for additional accommodation at NIHE, Limerick; and, if so, when work on the provision of the additional accommodation will commence.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 17 together.

The development plan for the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick is being implemented on a stage basis to meet requirements. The next phase of development is currently being planned on the basis of an initial piling contract being placed in 1981.

May I take it, then, that the stage of development which has been approved by the HEA will not now commence to be built in 1981, on the basis of what the Minister has said?

The preliminary work is the piling contract. My notes say that the initial piling contract will be placed and paid for in 1981.

Is the Minister aware of the continuing grave situation in relation to accomodation at the institute and that development will now be curtailed in 1981?

I do not accept that.

This is a supplementary on the question which I tabled. Is the Minister fully aware of the very acute situation vis-á-vis accommodation at the educational facilities and also, in particular, is there any provision in the next stage for hostel accommodation for students? This is an appalling problem in the Limerick area at present.

That is a slightly different question, Deputy. I recall, from memory, that an outside grouping were making preparations to provide a hostel some time ago. I hope that they will continue with that. They chose a site on campus originally but, the most recent information, speaking from memory, is that they are developing a hostel off campus.

Quite apart from the question of contracts and planning, does the Minister know whether ground will be broken and brick put on brick during the course of 1981?

Not a brick.

I have here the Leahy publication, with a photograph of work under way in phase 1 (b). I am sure that the Deputy is aware of this.

Like the education policy, it is going underground.