asked the Minister for Education if he will take immediate steps to acquire the school reservation site, Harold's Grange, Marley, Rathfarnham, County Dublin, for a post-primary school; whether it is intended to build such a school on this site; the number of pupils which the school will cater for; and the intended opening date.

Negotiations for the purchase of a site for a post-primary school in the Marley area are in progress at present and they will be concluded as soon as possible. The question of the building of a school on the site, including the opening date and pupil capacity of any such school, is under review in my Department at present.

How soon will these negotiations be brought to a conclusion? Is the Department committed to providing a post-primary school on this site for the very large young population in the area? Will the Minister confirm that fears in the area that the Department's commitment to the school is less than solid and will be abandoned are unfounded?

The site was owned by a building firm which went into liquidation. This has raised problems in relation to the acquisition of the site. Negotiations are in progress with the liquidator and they will be concluded as soon as possible. As to the Department's commitment, the Department had reservations but the then Minister, Deputy Boland, instructed that the Department should proceed with plans to provide a school in this area. That is the position at present. The Department are going ahead with that.

Is the Minister in a position to indicate when tenders will be invited for the building of the school? Has any decision been made about the number of pupils the school intends to cater for?

We are seeking this information at present from the divisional inspector in the area. As negotiations are in progress with the liquidator it is not known how soon the Department will be in a position to look for tenders.