Vol. 547 No. 2
157 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary and secondary schools waiting on extensions, repairs or renovation works in County Mayo; the date of the applications; and the progress made to date for each applicant. [2996/02]
158 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary and secondary schools waiting on new school buildings in County Mayo; the date of the applications; and the progress made to date for each applicant. [2997/02]
159 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools waiting on approval for new school buildings in County Mayo; the names of the schools; and the date of the applications. [2998/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 to 159, inclusive, together.
I will arrange for a list of the major projects in architectural planning for primary and post-primary schools in County Mayo to be forwarded to the Deputy.
Question No. 160 withdrawn.
161 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if stages IV and V documents for a proposed school extension project at St. Mary's secondary school, Mullingar, County Westmeath, were received in his Department on 17 May 2001; the progress which has been made on those documents since then; the reason this project has not advanced to tender stage in this period; and if the advancement of this project will be approved. [3000/02]
Stages four and five documents of my Department's design team procedures for the proposed school extension project at St. Mary's secondary school, Mullingar, County Westmeath, were received in the building unit of my Department on 17 May 2001.
The allocation for post-primary buildings in 2002 is €182.3 million. This is a record level of funding and demonstrates the Government's commitment to improving the accommodation situation in post-primary schools. This is almost four times the previous Government's investment in 1997.
Since this Government came to office there has been a greatly increased level of activity in the primary buildings area. There has also been a substantial increase in the number of major and minor building projects in construction. All of this has given rise to a record level of building and refurbishment activity.
The school authorities have requested some additional work in this case and efforts are being made to include this with the original brief in order to obtain the best value for money. This has led to some delay in progressing the stage four/five submission. My Department will be in direct contact with the school authority regarding this project very shortly.
162 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if an application for a new school has been received from the Mercy secondary school, Kilbeggan, County Westmeath; if so, the date on which this application was received; the status of this application; and if the project can be advanced. [3001/02]
An application for an extension to the existing school was received in the planning and building unit of my Department in April 2000. Since that time, the planning and building unit has been involved in detailed consultation with the school authorities with a view to assessing the long-term accommodation requirements for the school.
This assessment has included both the technical analysis of existing accommodation and the statistical analysis of long-term pupil projections. The school authorities have recently submitted additional information on housing developments and this information is being examined in conjunction with projected demographic changes for the area and the consequential effect on demand for pupil places at post-primary level. The planning section of my Department will be in touch with the school authorities as soon as this examination is complete.
163 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if a sum of ?1.52 million was allocated by his Department in August 2001 for the building of a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; if so, if this funding was sub sequently withdrawn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3002/02]
My Department has recently purchased a site for the school referred to by the Deputy at a cost of €596,777. This is a clear indication of my commitment to proceeding with a permanent building. The major building project for the school is currently in architectural planning as part of the Government's programme. The project will continue to the preparation of tender documents and the invitation of tenders, as soon as it is possible to do so, under the expanded building programme.
While the major building project is progressing, my Department has advised the board of management that it is prepared to put temporary accommodation on site as an interim measure, if for any reason the school has to vacate the premises it selected when granted permanent recognition. It is open to the board of management to take up this offer at any stage, in the interest of the children and teachers, if in its judgment the current facilities are unsatisfactory or unsafe.
