asked the Minister for Education if he will give an assurance that pupils from Scoil Mhuire, Howth, County Dublin, will be guaranteed places for their continuing education at Pobalscoil Neasáin, Baldoyle; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Arrangements for the admission of pupils to a particular school in any year have to take account, inter alia, of the accommodation available in the school and the size and organisational structure of the classes in the school at the time. It would not, accordingly, be feasible for any school management to give an assurance as suggested in the question from the Deputy. I am confident, however, that Pobalscoil Neasáin, Baldoyle, will meet its obligations in connection with legitimate applications for places from pupils from Scoil Mhuire, Howth.

Is the Minister aware of the anxiety caused the parents of Scoil Mhuire in Howth, parents who are not sure that their children will be able to continue their education? Would the Minister not instruct the board of management at Pobalscoil Neasáin, Baldoyle, to make arrangements to have the pupils from Scoil Mhuire placed in the Baldoyle school?

An officer of my Department will be in touch there to see to it that they will be placed.

Is the Minister saying an officer of his Department will be in touch with Pobalscoil Neasáin to ensure that places will be made available there for pupils from Scoil Mhuire?

Yes.

Thank you.

25.

asked the Minister for Education the reason for the delay in sanctioning the plans for the extension of Fenor national school, County Waterford.

Revised sketch-plans have been prepared by the Commissioners of Public Works for the proposed extension to Fenor national school, County Waterford. A grant will be sanctioned towards the cost of the scheme when satisfactory title to the site has been established and agreement has been reached on the amount of local contribution to be provided by the school authorities.

It is my intention that the building of this extension shall commence as soon as possible.

When did the problem of title to the site arise? That is the first I heard of it.

The chairman was reminded on 15 April to furnish satisfactory evidence of title.

Is the Minister aware that this case has been dragging on for some seven or eight years now?

I know. There have been a lot of difficulties.

Is the Minister aware that the school is structurally unsound, grossly overcrowded and that people's patience is running out?

The school is a priority one within my Department.

Is the Minister aware that this school is seriously substandard? Is he further aware that about two years ago, when I visited the school together with my colleague, Deputy Deasy, there was a question there of rat infestation? Is the Minister further aware that the tardiness with which the Department seem to be treating the extension of the school is something which is unfortunate and unnecessary, when this extension should have been provided approximately 12 months ago?

I appreciate the Deputy's concern. The Department are not responsible for delays, as the Deputy well knows. There were various causes of delay. I would advise both Deputies to see to it that satisfactory evidence of title reaches us quickly.

Assuming that satisfactory evidence of title is cleared up within a matter of weeks, could the Minister give us some indication of how long it will be before work is commenced on this extension?

The Deputy knows the stages through which it must pass. We have the revised sketch plans, we want working drawings, bills of quantity and then tenders. That should not take too long.

Can the Minister give a time scale for this because this must surely have been one of the schools listed by the INTO?

There will be no delay.

Will it be started before the election?

I do not know anything about any elections.