asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date position in relation to the provision of a general purpose room for Slieveadara national school, Ballyduff, County Kerry.

My Department have agreed to grant-aid the provision of a general purposes room and some ancillary accommodation at Slieveadara national school, Ballyduff, County Kerry, and currently await submission by the school authorities of local authority planning permission.

This application has been with the Department for a number of years. I am surprised to hear that planning approval has not been given for it. I did not know that. Would the Minister give me an assurance that approval will be given as soon as possible if planning permission is submitted to the Department?

I am aware that the application has been with the Department for some years. The original sketch scheme for the project was amended at the request of the school authorities on several occasions. This naturally delayed the procedure. I can assure the Deputy that when planning permission is submitted to the Department there will be no undue restriction on the procedure to the next stage of this school.