Michael Creed
Question:165 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department has received the inspector's report, requested on 7 January 2002, regarding a school building project (details supplied) in County Cork. [6120/02]
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
It is anticipated that the report referred to by the Deputy will be available to my Department shortly. On receipt and examination of this report, a decision on the school's long-term accommodation needs will be made and conveyed to the board of management as soon as possible.
Charles Flanagan
Question:166 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the position regarding the future secondary school at Ballyfin, County Laois; and if he will make a further statement on his meeting with representatives of the parents' council on 10 December 2001 during which he stated he would take their views into account. [6121/02]
The management authorities of the Patrician College, Ballyfin, which is included in the Portlaoise catchment area, indicated to my Department some time ago that they were not in a position to continue to provide post-primary education in Ballyfin. As an alternative, they proposed to participate with County Laois Vocational Education Committee in the management of an amalgamated community college, to be located on a site in Portlaoise owned by the VEC. The proposed amalgamation will guarantee the option of co-education in the area in greatly enhanced facilities.
I must emphasise that, as trustees of the Patrician College, the decision to withdraw from trusteeship and management of the school is a matter for the Patrician Brothers. The issue for me, as Minister for Education and Science, is how post-primary educational provision in the catchment area should be structured to best effect, having regard to the brothers' decision and the major capital funding required by the other post-primary schools in the area. Taking all factors into account, I am of the view that the amalgamation proposed by the Patrician Brothers and the VEC is the appropriate course of action.
I met with representatives of the Ballyfin parents' council last December, whose objective is to retain a post-primary school in Ballyfin. More recently, officials of my Department met with representatives of the parents and teachers of the school and listened to their concerns. At that meeting, the representatives were given the opportunity to submit their views regarding the proposed amalgamation. Their submission has been received and is being considered at present in the planning section of my Department.
Liam Aylward
Question:167 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delay in acquiring a site for the provision of a new national school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [6122/02]
The allocation for primary buildings in 2002 is €153.6 million, which is a record level of funding and demonstrates the Government's commitment to improving the accommodation situation in primary schools. This is almost four times the previous Government's investment in 1997.
Due to the greatly increased level of activity in the primary buildings area since the Government came into office, there has been a substantial increase in the number of major and minor building projects in construction and this has given rise to a record level of building and refurbishment activity.
My Department expects to be in a position during this year to give detailed consideration to an application from the school referred to by the Deputy for improved accommodation as part of the expanded building programme. The school authorities will be informed of developments.
Liam Aylward
Question:168 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will arrange sanction of stage 3 of a development at a national school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [6123/02]
The allocation for primary buildings in 2002 is €153.6 million, which is a record level of funding and demonstrates the Government's commitment to improving the accommodation situation in primary schools. This is almost four times the previous Government's investment in 1997.
Due to the greatly increased level of activity in the primary buildings area since the Government came into office, there has been a substantial increase in the number of major and minor building projects in construction and this has given rise to a record level of building and refurbishment activity.
The school referred to by the Deputy is being extended/refurbished as part of the Government's programme and is currently in architectural planning. The project will continue to the preparation of tender documents and the invitation of tenders, as soon as possible, under the expanded building programme.
Michael Ring
Question:169 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if an announcement was ever made for a new school without configuration of the catchment area being determined; and the way in which his Department can provide funding for a school when the catchment area is not known. [6124/02]
Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods): I take it the Deputy is referring specifically to post-primary level, where the concept of a catchment area has particular relevance in the determination of pupil numbers, and school transport arrangements.
A definitive catchment area is not a prerequisite for the announcement of a new post-primary school and such announcements are generally made in advance of the precise configuration having been determined. Examples of recent announcements in this regard include: Moville, County Donegal – a new community college announced in January 2000; and Ratoath, County Meath – a new community college announced in May 2001. The precise configuration of a catchment area is determined following a review of existing provision and consultation with current providers of post-primary education in the area concerned.
The extent of investment in the permanent accommodation to be provided at any school is directly related to the number of pupils requiring facilities in the long-term. In the case of new post-primary schools, the determination of a precise catchment area is an important factor in determining long-term accommodation requirements.
John Bruton
Question:170 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason no action has been taken by the planning and building unit to build additional classrooms in Rathregan national school, Batterstown, County Meath. [6157/02]
The allocation for primary buildings in 2002 is €153.6 million, which is a record level of funding and demonstrates the Government's commitment to improving the accommodation situation in primary schools. This is almost four times the previous Government's investment in 1997.
Due to the greatly increased level of activity in the primary buildings area since the Government came into office, there has been a substantial increase in the number of major and minor building projects in construction and this has given rise to a record level of building and refurbishment activity.
A proposed building project for Rathregan national school will proceed to architectural planning and to the preparation of tender documents, as soon as possible, under the expanded building programme.
John Bruton
Question:171 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the specific date that an additional general purpose and physical education room will be provided for Our Lady of Mercy primary school, Kells, County Meath; the stage the works are at; if an architect has been appointed; if the tender documents have been drawn up; if contracts have been signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6158/02]
The allocation for primary buildings in 2002 is €153.6 million, which is a record level of funding and demonstrates the Government's commitment to improving the accommodation situation in primary schools. This is almost four times the previous Government's investment in 1997.
Due to the greatly increased level of activity in the primary buildings area since the Government came into office, there has been a substantial increase in the number of major and minor building projects in construction and this has given rise to a record level of building and refurbishment activity.
A proposed building project for Convent of Mercy national school, Kells, will proceed to architectural planning and to the preparation of tender documents, as soon as possible, under the expanded building programme.