Vol. 527 No. 2
153 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science when the extension to St. Declan's Community College, Kilmacthomas, County Waterford will be going to tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28097/00]
154 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the history of the progress of the extension plan to St. Declan's Community College, Kilmacthomas, County Waterford since the process commenced in 1995; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28098/00]
155 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the appalling conditions which obtain at St. Declan's Community College, Kilmacthomas, County Waterford (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28099/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 to 155, inclusive, together.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that plans are well advanced for an extension project, which will provide 1646mf7>2 of additional accommodation at St. Declan's community college, Kilmacthomas, County Waterford, and for a major refurbishment of the existing accommodation at the school.
The stage 1 site, suitability, report for this project was received in my Department in November 1995. This report contained two options. Further information on the relative costings of the proposals was requested. Following receipt and examination of this latter information, a planning and briefing meeting which involved all of the stakeholders in this project was arranged in September 1996 at which all options were discussed and the best option from an educational, architectural and value for money aspects was identified and agreed.
Subsequently, a stage 2, outline sketch, report was received in my Department on 28 April 1997. In July 1997, approval to proceed to stage 3, developed sketch scheme, was conveyed to the school's management authority, subject to the inclusion of a number of amendments in the stage 3 submission. The stage 3 report was received in January 1998. Unfortunately, the report required a number of amendments. The revised report was approved in July 1998 and sanction to proceed to a combined stage 4-5, detailed design and bill of quantities, was conveyed at that time. Full planning approval for the project was granted on 29 March 1999.
