Olivia Mitchell
Question:182 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science when funding for the rebuilding and refurbishment of Our Lady's Grove secondary school will be made available. [7299/02]
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
The examination of an application for additional accommodation at Jesus and Mary secondary school, Goatstown has been completed by the planning and building unit of my Department. Recently a letter was issued to its board of management outlining the long-term projected enrolment figure on which it is proposed to base the school's accommodation needs.
The school's authorities have since written to my Department to appeal the decision. They indicated that further information will be provided as soon as possible to support their appeal. On receipt of this information the matter of the long-term accommodation requirements of the school will be re-examined.
When the long-term enrolment figure has been agreed the post-primary building unit will be in touch with the school authorities regarding the completion of an educational worksheet. This document will indicate the school's curricular choices. Based on this document schedules of suggested future use of existing accommodation and any residual accommodation considered necessary will be completed by my Department's senior inspector.
The question of funding for any proposed works will not arise until stage 6, the tender action and report, of architectural planning.
John McGuinness
Question:183 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science the status of the building project for Johnswell national school, Kilkenny; the stage the project is at; if funding is available to enable the project to move forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7300/02]
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 problem 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 this Government came into office, there has been a substantial increase in the number of major and minor building projects in construction. This has given rise to a record level of building and refurbishment activity.
Johnswell national school 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.
Róisín Shortall
Question:184 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will outline, further to Parliamentary Question No. 156 of 12 December 2001 and his commitment to provide the list of 800 plus applications for major capital works with his Department, the stage each application is at; the way in which he intends to deal with this level of outstanding work; the reason for the delay in providing the information requested; and if the information is now available. [7301/02]
I am finalising for Government the details and shape of the programme as it is likely to develop through the year. It is my intention to make available to Deputies a list of schools building projects currently in construction as well as major building projects in architectural planning as soon as possible, taking this year's Estimates, the budget allocation and public private partnerships into account. I will also announce details of projects that are ready to go to tender and others for which tenders have been received and where construction will commence in the coming months.