Vol. 545 No. 1
352 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an application by Knockbride East national school to his Department; if his attention has been drawn to the cramped and difficult conditions prevailing in the school; if he will authorise construction of a new school at Knockbride East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29892/01]
My Department has received an application for grant-aid towards the cost of a building project at Knockbride East national school. 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. 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 and when all budget decisions have been taken by the Government.
353 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a four classroom school in a developing area of County Wexford (detail supplied) has six teachers and six classes with ongoing regular new enrolments and that, due to the fact that all available space must be used to accommodate classroom teaching, there is no general purposes area, no room for remedial or resource teaching and a greatly restricted play area; if he will ensure that progress on this school's building project will not be delayed due to information deficits such as numbers on alarms; if sanction to go to tender will issue to this school in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29893/01]
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 building programme at all levels. The allocation in the current year is £370.5 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 and when all budget decisions have been taken by the Government.
Question No. 354 answered with Question No. 305.
