Jack Wall
Question:84 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a new school building for Athy senior college, Athy, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17791/02]
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
I wish to inform the deputy that County Kildare VEC recently appointed the design team for the proposed new school for Athy community college. My Department is currently awaiting the stage 1 – site suitability, briefing and site report – submission.
Jack Wall
Question:85 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a proposed extension to St. Farnay's post primary school, Prosperous, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17792/02]
The stage 3 submission – developed sketch scheme – has been examined within my Department's post primary building unit. The question of allowing the project to proceed to stage 4 – detailed design – will be considered in the light of the available capital resources for 2003 and current commitments.
Jack Wall
Question:86 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a school building project for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17793/02]
Jack Wall
Question:87 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a school building project for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17794/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 together.
The general position is that where architectural planning for a building project has commenced, 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.
Where architectural planning for a project has not yet commenced my Department will not be in a position, for financial reasons, to start the planning process, in the foreseeable future.
My Department has an extensive primary school building programme for 2002 under way at present, details of which are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. Projects at schools referred to by the Deputy that are currently in architectural planning will not proceed to construction this year.
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 projects at an advanced stage of architectural planning will be considered for inclusion in that programme.
In the meantime, boards of management should ensure that essential health and safety issues at the school are attended to. They should therefore continue to use the devolved grant for minor works and if the cost of any works of an emergency nature exceeds the amount available under the devolved grant, they may apply to my Department's building unit for grant aid.
Jack Wall
Question:88 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a school building project for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17795/02]
The property management section of the Office of Public Works is acting on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally and is currently exploring the possibility of acquiring a site extension for the school in question. The school authorities will be kept informed of developments.
Paul Connaughton
Question:89 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Science the current stage of the application for an extension to the Newtown girls' national school, Abbeyknockmoy, Tuam, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17796/02]
Architectural planning for a building project at Newtown girls national school is at an advanced 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.
My Department has an extensive primary school building programme for 2002 under way at present, details of which are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. It is not envisaged that the proposed building project at Newtown girls 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 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.
My Department will be in contact with the schools concerned when the programme for 2003 is published.
Eamon Gilmore
Question:90 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress which has been made with regard to the proposed building at Kill-o-the-Grange national school, Blackrock, County Dublin; when building will commence; the reason building work has not already been carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17811/02]
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that approval has now been given to accept a tender and a contract will shortly be awarded for the provision of a new school to replace the existing Kill-o-the-Grange national school.
Gerard Murphy
Question:91 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Science if an official from his Depart ment will be sent to Scoil Phobail, Sliabh Luachra, Rathmore, County Kerry, to meet the parents council association to deal with the urgent requirements of this school. [17812/02]
My Department officials are aware of the works proposed at this school and in particular the requirement to appoint the remaining members of the design team. My Department has an extensive post primary building programme under way at present, but, for financial reasons, it was not possible to commence architectural planning for a major building project at Scoil Phobail, Sliabh Luachra, Rathmore, County Kerry.
The question of appointing the remaining members of the design team will be considered later this year when the financial allocation has been made for the post primary schools building programme in the 2003 Estimates. My Department will be in contact with the school authority directly at that time.
The Deputy will appreciate that in light of the above, I considered it unnecessary for officials of my Department to meet with the parents council association. However, should the parents council association have other concerns regarding requirements at the school, they should be brought to the attention of the school authority for transmission to my Department's building unit.
Ned O'Keeffe
Question:92 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the building project in respect of a primary school (details supplied) in County Cork. [17813/02]
Architectural planning for a building project at this 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.
My Department has an extensive primary school building programme for 2002 under way at present, details of which are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. It is not envisaged that the proposed building project 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 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.
My Department will be in contact with the schools concerned when the programme for 2003 is published.