Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 1

Written Answers. - County Meath Schools.

Mary Wallace

Question:

177 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Education the date of approval of the 2,063 square metres extension to Ashbourne Community School, County Meath; if she will detail in chronological order the progress, if any, which has been made since that date; the steps, if any, she intends to take to expedite the project which is almost two years at Stage 1; if she will give clarification that funding for the project will be included in the estimates currently being prepared; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20383/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

An extension to cater for a projected long-term enrolment of 1,000 pupils has been approved for Ashbourne Community School, County Meath. Approval was granted in March 1996 for the appointment of a design team for the architectural planning of the proposed extension. The design team was instructed in April to prepare stage one documentation, that is, a site report, for submission to the Department. The stage one submission was presented to the post-primary building unit of my Department in July and following detailed examination of the stage one report, a technical briefing meeting took place in the Department with the design team. The exact location on the school site of the proposed extension was discussed with the school authorities and agreement has been reached on the most suitable location.

Approval has now been given to the design team to proceed to stage two, that is, the outline sketch scheme, of the planning process. The question of providing capital funds for building will not arise until the planning process has been fully completed.

At this early stage, it is not possible to indicate when construction will commence. However, every effort is being made to have the planning of the proposed extension completed as quickly as possible.

Mary Wallace

Question:

178 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the architect for Ratoath primary school, County Meath, employed by the school board of management, has clarified that the tender process for the much needed extension will be concluded by 13 December 1996; if she will clarify that she is including this project in the estimates currently being prepared in her Department and that there will be no delay in allowing the builder on site by February 1997, in order to ensure that the project will be ready for the September 1997 pupil intake and to avoid the chaos that occurred in September 1996, due to the promised extension not being in place. [20384/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

The school's architect on the Ratoath project is currently finalising the tender documentation for the proposed extension. In tandem with this work, the pre-qualification tender process has begun. As soon as the tender documentation is ready, it will be examined by my Department's professional staff. When this examination is completed, the school will be authorised to invite tenders. Subject to a satisfactory tender process, a builder should be on-site by February 1997. The necessary funding will be available for the project.