asked the Minister for Education if she will agree that St. Laurence O'Toole's No. 2 school urgently needs suitable alternative premises; and if she will allocate £27,000 to acquire local property to house this special school which is doing exceptional work in very difficult circumstances in the Sheriff Street area, Dublin 1.

Alternative premises are needed for the school and I hope to arrange for the use of premises which I understand will be available from Easter 1984.

Could the Minister indicate what premises are involved?

I hope the Deputy appreciates that it would not be possible to name the premises whilst negotiations are taking place. However, I am reasonably confident that the premises will be acquired and will be available for the use mentioned in the Deputy's question.

Will the Minister give a commitment that if the negotiations regarding the premises in question fall through, suitable alternative premises will be found for this school, given that the conditions are most inadequate at the moment, located in the Sheriff Street flats complex?

I am aware of the position as mentioned by the Deputy but I am confident that the present negotiations will provide a suitable building for the school in question. At this stage I do not contemplate failure on that matter. I understand the premises will be available for Easter 1984 and I suggest to the Deputy that he should leave it at that.

The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.