Vol. 553 No. 4
102 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science the status of an application from Duiske College, Graiguenamanagh, County Kilkenny for refurbishment works; the stage the application is at; and the likely date for the commencement of work. [14263/02]
My Department has issued approval to County Kilkenny VEC to instruct its design team to proceed to stages 4-5, that is the preparation of pre-tender documentation including bill of quantities, of the planning process. When this documentation is received and examined within my Department, the matter of tender action will be determined.
103 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science when his Department will sanction the extension for Creenkill national school, Gathabawn, County Kilkenny; the stage the proposal is at; and the cost involved. [14264/02]
Architectural planning for a building project at Creenkill national school is at an early stage.
Decisions on projects proceeding to tender and construction are taken in the light of the annual allocation for primary school buildings, the financial commitments to be met and the priority to be afforded to individual projects.
An extensive building programme for 2002 has already been approved and published. It is not envisaged that the proposed building project at Creenkill national school will proceed to construction in 2002.
Later this year, when a financial allocation has been made for the primary school building programme in the 2003 Estimates, I will frame a further comprehensive programme of works that will proceed to construction. The school concerned will be one of those considered for inclusion in that programme.
I intend to bring greater transparency to the operation of the school building programme and 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.
