Vol. 542 No. 5
478 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in regard to a school extension (details supplied) in County Kildare; the position in regard to stages 4 and 5 of the development; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the proposal is to deal with autistic children; if there will be an early decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25210/01]
My Department has received an application for grant aid towards the cost of a building project at the school in question. The Deputy will appreciate that there has been a massive and unprecedented increase in the funds allocated by this Government to the schools building programme at all levels. Decisions relating to the rate of progress to construction of projects, including the school referred to by the Deputy, will be taken in the light of the allocations to be made for school building purposes in the forthcoming Estimates.
Question No. 479 answered with Question No. 440.
480 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application was made to his Department in March 1997 for major development at a school (details supplied) in County Wexford and his Department agreed a schedule of accommodation in November 1998 and granted a projected long-term enrolment of 300 pupils; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that a design team was appointed and a stage 1 submission made on 2000, followed in November 2000 by a briefing meeting with the building unit and in July 2001 by a stage 2 submission; if further consideration of this project has been halted; if so, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25228/01]
The school referred to by the Deputy applied to my Department in 1997 for capital grant aid in respect of additional accommodation. Similar applications have since been received from the four other post-primary schools which share the same catchment area. As a direct result of these applications, and in view of the projected long-term enrolment of the five schools concerned, which indicates that post-primary pupil numbers in the catchment area are in decline, my Department decided to examine the scope for rationalising post-primary education provision in the centre. Letters issued to the trustees of the five schools concerned in August 2001 inviting them to consider the issue of rationalisation. One of the trustees has replied stating they are interested in participating in discussions regarding rationalisation. The remaining four trustees have replied stating that they are considering the matter. As soon as definitive replies are received from the other trustees, the scope for rationalisation will be considered further. In the meantime, the building project at the school in question has been put on hold.
481 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the health and safety implications of the present overcrowding at a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25234/01]
My Department has received an application for grant aid towards the cost of a building project at the school in question. The Deputy will appreciate that there has been a massive and unprecedented increase in the funds allocated by this Government to the schools building programme at all levels. Decisions relating to the rate of progress to construction of projects, including the school referred to by the Deputy, will be taken in the light of the allocations to be made for school building purposes in the forthcoming Estimates.
