Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 3

Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.

Michael Ring

Question:

198 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science when a school (details supplied) in County Mayo applied for grant aid for renovations and development of the building; the situation regarding this application; the funding which has been allocated to the school; and when the work will go out to tender. [27213/01]

Michael Ring

Question:

199 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason development was halted on a school (details supplied) in County Mayo just as it was to go out to tender. [27214/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 199 together.

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 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 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.