Vol. 481 No. 2
164 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when final agreement will be reached between his Department's technical staff and the design team in relation to the proposed extension at Scoil Mhuire, Clane, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15952/97]
The design team for the extension of Scoil Mhuire, Clane, County Kildare, met my Department's technical staff in August 1997 to discuss the project in detail. My Department is awaiting stage 2, outline sketch scheme, documentation from the design team and once this has been examined and found to be in order, the project will proceed to stage 3 of planning. While every effort will be made to expedite architectural planning, it is not possible at this point to say when construction will begin.
165 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will direct the relevant section in his Department to incorporate in one, the three developmental stages of detailed design, working drawings and bills of quantity in relation to the second-level girls school at Celbridge, County Kildare, in order to facilitate the seeking of tenders before the end of 1997, enabling the project to proceed early in 1998, further to his reply to Parliamentary Question 604 of 30 September 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15953/97]
The project to replace the accommodation at St. Wolstan's in Celbridge with a new school is a major capital development requiring a very substantial degree of technical and professional input to order to complete the architectural planning process. The technical work is made much more complex due to the difficult nature of the site at Ballymakeely where it is proposed to locate the new school. While every effort will be made to expedite the planning process it would not be possible, as the Deputy suggests, to have the project ready to proceed to tender before the end of 1997.
