asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the extremely urgent need to provide a new vocational school in Moon-coin, County Kilkenny; and if she intends to issue sanction for building work to commence.

87.

asked the Minister for Education when she proposes to sanction the building of a vocational school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny in view of the commitments given by her to the board of management in May 1988.

The bills of quantities for this major extension, approximate cost £1.3 million, have been completed and are generally satisfactory. The next stage is the invitation of tenders.

I am aware of the need to proceed with the project as soon as possible. However, as the rate of advancement of all projects in planning is dependent on the availability of capital resources and on my Department's commitments I am not in a position, at present, to indicate when construction work will commence on this project.

May I ask the Minister of State if it was his intention to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together?

I apologise, it was my intention to take Questions Nos. 6 and 87 together.

The Chair might as well answer for the Minister.

Please, Deputy Birmingham, the Chair was seeking to be helpful as always.

Arising from the Minister's reply, could he be more precise about the approximate start up date of building works on this scheme? Having regard to the Minister's admission that the work is urgent, I believe people would be happy if they knew when it was to start, in six, 12 or 18 months' time. Would the Minister even give a broad indication when work will commence?

It is not possible to give an exact indication at present as next year's Estimates clearly will determine the progress in our building programme. However, I can assure the Deputy that Mooncoin will be borne very much in mind when the Estimates for 1990 are being decided upon by the Government.

Is the Minister saying that the work will not commence this year?

That is correct. The capital is not available in the current year for this project and consequently it will have to be considered in the context of future Estimates.