Seamus Kirk
Question:848 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the building project at Ardee community school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26760/01]
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
My Department is currently awaiting the stage one (site suitability) submission of the building unit's design team procedures in relation to the building project at Ardee Community School, County Louth. 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 million, 470.4 million, which is almost four times the allocation made by the previous Government in 1997. This level of funding 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.