Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Jun 2002

Vol. 553 No. 6

Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

105 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the progress being made to address the critical need for refurbishment and expansion of St. Cronan's junior and senior national schools, Brackenstown, Swords, County Dublin; and the time frame for this work to be done. [14753/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

Architectural planning is at an advanced stage for a building project at St. Cronan's. The application for grant aid for a building project at its senior school is under active consideration. My Department will shortly be in contact with the school authorities.

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 St. Cronan's junior 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 schools concerned will be some 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.