Vol. 549 No. 4
296 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a science laboratory has not been grant aided for St. Bridget's vocational school, Loughrea, County Galway despite the fact that the application was made over five years ago; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are 568 students in the school with only one science laboratory; and when the project will commence. [6926/02]
The allocation for post-primary buildings in 2002 is €182.31 million, which is a record level of funding and demonstrates this Government's commitment to improving the accommodation circumstances in post-primary schools. This is almost four times the previous Government's investment in 1997.
Due to the greatly increased level of investment in the post-primary buildings area since this 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 to which the Deputy refers is to receive a science laboratory as part of the Government's programme. Tenders have been sought for this project and a report on the tenders received is being examined in my Department at present. My Department expects to be in a position to authorise the acceptance of a tender shortly.
