Vol. 552 No. 3
176 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department has received a request for an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Cork; the additional facilities which are required in this school; if these have been deemed necessary by his Department's inspector; and if so, when these facilities will be provided. [12302/02]
My Department has received an application for an extension from the school referred to by the Deputy.
The application, including an inspector's report, is currently being examined in the planning section of my Department. As part of the examination, all relevant factors, including the school's current and projected enrolments and demographic trends in the general area will be taken into account. On completion of this examination, a decision will be taken on the school's long-term accommodation requirements and notified to the school authorities as soon as possible.
177 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science when a grant application for Pullathomas national school, County Mayo was made; if an inspector from his Department called to see this school; if so, when; the details of the report from the inspector's visit; the recommendations in this regard; when his Department will grant-aid the necessary repairs and extension to this school; the position in this regard; when money will be allocated for same; and the progress made on the application, step by step, since it was first submitted. [12303/02]
An application for an extension at Pullathomas national school, was completed by the chairperson of the school board of management on 7 June 2000. An inspector from my Department visited the school in question and reported on the application in May 2001. The inspector's report on the school contained recommendations regarding its future viability and short and long-term accommodation needs and included also enrolment projections for the school.
A preliminary examination of the application for an extension in respect of Pullathomas national school has been carried out in the planning section of my Department. However, to finalise this process, further details regarding this school and schools in the general area are required and the current inspector for the area has been requested to provide this information.
On completion of this examination, a decision on the school's long-term accommodation requirements will be made and notified to the board of management. In the interim, my Department is grant-aiding the rental of temporary accommodation at the school, to cater for the recent appointment of a remedial teacher.
