Cecilia Keaveney
Question:614 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science when a planning and briefing meeting will occur for a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7885/02]
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school authorities to which the Deputy refers are to receive a new school and PE hall with an area of 4,767 square metres to cater for a long-term projected enrolment of 500 pupils. This project is currently at stage 1 of architectural planning. In January 2002 the building unit of my Department instructed the design team to submit a revised stage 1 submission to the Department. A planning and briefing meeting will be arranged on receipt of the revised stage 1 submission.
The allocation for post-primary buildings in 2002 is €182.31 million, which is a record level of funding and demonstrates the Government's commitment to improving accommodation in post-primary schools. This is almost four times the previous Government's investment in 1997. In view of the greatly increased level of investment in the post 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.