Joe Higgins
Question:750 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give approval to allow Castleknock Community College proceed with a stand alone, full size physical education hall. [26017/01]
Written Answers. - Physical Education Facilities.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a stage 1 submission has been received in the building unit of my Department for the construction of a sports hall of 806 square metres at Castleknock Community College. The building unit's technical staff are currently examining this submission. The Deputy will appreciate that there has been a massive and unprecedented increase in the funds allocated by this Government to the building programme at all levels. The allocation in the current year is £370.5 million, 470.4 million. This is almost four times the allocation made by the previous Government in 1997. This level of funding has enabled my Department to undertake a record number of building projects and it is my intention to continue this rate of progress in overcoming the deficit arising from many past years and in meeting the needs of the present day. Decisions relating to the rate of progress to construction of individual projects, including the school referred to by the Deputy, will be taken, as in previous years, in the light of the allocations to be made for school building purposes in the forthcoming estimates.