Vol. 553 No. 2
334 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a reply was never issued on a parliamentary question placed earlier in 2002 and asking about the number of primary and secondary schools which are waiting on new school buildings in County Mayo; the list of the schools; the date of their applications; and the progress made to date for each applicant. [13195/02]
The building programme for 2002 is posted on the Department's web site – www.irlgov.ie/education – under the heading "School Building Programme". This list will be updated, as appropriate, on a regular basis. Later this year, when a financial allocation has been made for the primary school building programme in the 2003 Estimates, I will be framing a further comprehensive programme of works that will proceed to construction and the school concerned will be one of those considered for inclusion in that programme.
It is my intention to bring greater transparency to the operation of the school building programme and I intend to publish the programme annually. I am also anxious to build a multi-annual dimension into the published programme so that schools will have an indication of the expected timelines relating to their project.
335 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science when a start date will be given for a new school (details supplied) in County Mayo which was approved some time ago. [13196/02]
Tenders were recently received for the proposed project at the school referred to by the Deputy. These tenders are currently being evaluated by the school's quantity surveyor. The school authorities will be kept informed of developments.
