asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the need to provide a general purposes room at Ballacolla national school, County Laois; and when sanction will be given.

My Department have agreed in principle to grant-aid the provision of a general purposes room at Ballacolla national school, County Laois. The chairman of the school's board of management has recently been advised to engage an architect for the preparation and submission of a sketch scheme.

I am glad the Minister of State has given permission to the school manager to engage an architect in this case. Will he tell the House when he sees this general purposes room being provided?

I have already refused to give specific dates in relation to school buildings. When the sketch scheme is prepared and presented to the Department they will negotiate with the chairman of the board of management regarding the local contribution and its size. The next stage will be the working drawings for the bill of quantities. The Deputy must accept that the view of the Department with regard to the urgency of the matter is indicated quite clearly in that they have asked the local board of management to provide their own architect to expedite the work. I am sorry I cannot give more specific information to the Deputy in relation to the commencement date of the work.

I am glad that the Minister of State has agreed in principle to grant-aid the school. I ask him to keep the matter under observation. It is urgent due to the unsatisfactory nature of accommodation for the teachers and the pupils.

There will be no need for that because I will be reminded.