Vol. 550 No. 5
176 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when St. Wolstan's community school, Celbridge, County Kildare will receive funding for sporting facilities such as playing pitches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9584/02]
I understand that my colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation has provisionally allocated funding towards a synthetic all-weather hockey pitch at St. Wolstan's community school, Celbridge, County Kildare under his Department's Sports Capital Programme .
In addition, my Department's post-primary building unit has agreed in principle that the funding normally provided for a standard football pitch will be allocated to partly fund this development. Detailed costings and proposals as to how the anticipated shortfall in funding will be financed are awaited from the school authorities in order for this application to be considered further.
177 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an application for extension and refurbishment of Ballymana National School, Craughwell, County Galway; if his attention has been drawn to the overcrowding in the school; when money will be made available to allow the project to go to tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9585/02]
The allocation for primary buildings in 2002 is €153.6 million, a record level of funding which demonstrates this Government's commitment to improving accommodation in primary schools. This is almost four times the previous Government's investment in 1997.
Because of 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 and this has given rise to a record level of building and refurbishment activity.
A building project at Ballymana national school, Craughwell, County Galway, 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 possible, under the Government's expanded building programme.
