Vol. 545 No. 4
374 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on whether a new primary school at Summercove, Kinsale, County Cork is required; and if preliminary steps will be taken for the building of a new school. [30412/01]
My Department has received an application for a building project at Summercove national school, Kinsale, County Cork. The Deputy will appreciate that there has been a massive and unprecedented increase in the funds allocated by the 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 a proposed building project at Summercove national school, which has not yet commenced architectural planning, 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.
