asked the Minister for Education the present position regarding the proposed new special school at Lixnaw, County Kerry.

96.

asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date position regarding the provision of an extension to Lyreacrompane national school, the Curranes national school, Castleisland; and the present position regarding the proposed Nano Nagle school for the handicapped at Lixnaw, County Kerry.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 96 together.

The tender documentation for the extensions proposed for Lyreacrompane and Curranes national schools, County Kerry, has been completed. The question of authorising the invitation of tenders will be considered in due course in the light of the availability of capital for the projects. Because of the extent to which my Department's 1987 allocation of capital for the national school building programme had already been committed prior to my assuming office, I am not in a position at this stage to say when tenders may be invited in these cases.

With regard to the proposed Nano Nagle school for the handicapped at Lixnaw, County Kerry, discussions have been taking place between officers of my Department and the authorities concerned. There is general agreement that the new school building should be located on a site to be provided at Listowel. My Department are agreeable to this proposal and to grant-aid the new building. The physical planning of the building has not, however, as yet commenced.

In view of the fact that the proposal is not to go ahead with the school in Lixnaw, does the Minister know that the nuns of Lixnaw are not aware of that?

Following a recent meeting with the chairman and the school authorities, there was general agreement not to proceed with the proposed erection of the school at Lixnaw. This decision was reached as a result of the wish of the Presentation Sisters to withdraw from Lixnaw, so to a certain degree we are responding to their wish and to the wish of the people generally in that area that the project should proceed in Listowel.

There is conflict between the information the Minister has supplied and the information which was given at local level.

Is that something to do with the election?