(Dublin North West) asked the Minister for Education the present position in relation to the provision of gymnasium facilities at Ardscoil La Salle, Raheny, Dublin 5; and when this building programme is scheduled for completion.

My Department await submission of outstanding tender data in respect of the proposed new physical education hall at Ardscoil La Salle, Raheny. When this matter has been satisfactorily attended to by the school manager, official approval to proceed with construction will follow.

The tender documents stipulate a nine month construction period.

If I heard him clearly, the Minister is saying that the matter rests with school management, and that all that can be done on his side has been done.

The position is, as stated in my reply, that the next stage now rests with the school manager from whom we are awaiting a response. Architectural planning was initiated in July 1982 and in March 1985 the Department authorised the seeking of tenders in accordance with stage 6 of its design team procedures. A final report on the tender competition was submitted on 27 September 1985 and as a result of technical examination the Department wrote to the school manager on 11 October 1985 requesting the submission of outstanding tender data. When this matter has been settled satisfactorily, formal approval to proceed with construction will follow without undue delay.

In relation to the correspondence with school management on 11 October, how long did the Minister's Department have the final tender prior to issuing a request for further technical information?

I am afraid that I have not that information for the Deputy but as far as I know it would be approximately two to three weeks.

Could I have an assurance from the Minister that when the final technical information has been provided there will be no further undue delay in the commencement of building?

Once the information requested by my Department from the school manager has been submitted and found to be in order — and I stress that — and found to comply with the regulations laid down, there will not be any undue delay in my Department.

Is the Minister saying that there were some serious difficulties in relation to the absence of technical data? Was his request for additional technical information?

Yes.

Would it appear that there were serious omissions, or were they of a very minor nature?

They were of a minor nature, but they must be rectified before we can proceed to the next stage.