Michael D'Arcy
Question:192 Mr. D'Arcy asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the additional accommodation at Monageer national school; and when the works will start. [27116/01]
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
My Department has received an application for grant aid towards the cost of a building project at Monageer national school, Monageer, County Wexford. 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 – 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 Monageer national school, will be taken as in previous years in the light of the allocations to be made for school building purposes in the forthcoming estimates.
Brendan Howlin
Question:193 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science when stage 5 approval will be issued by his Department in respect of the building project first mooted in 1994 for Bridgetown vocational college, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27117/01]
An extension of 1,772 square metres is planned for the school in question and the project is progressing through architectural planning. A stage 4 submission – detail design – was received in my Department in July, 2001. In August 2001 the building unit wrote to the school authorities requesting information that was previously omitted from the submission. This information was received in my Department on 22 October 2001 and is currently being examined. On completion of this examination, a decision will be taken on the progression of this project to stage five.