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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Oct 2002

Vol. 555 No. 2

Adjournment Debate. - Schools Building Projects.

John McGuinness

Question:

212 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science, further to Parliamentary Question No. 711 of 20 March 2002, the progress which has been made in providing a new gymnasium for the presentation secondary school, Loughboy, Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18184/02]

As the Deputy is aware, the post-primary building unit of my Department commissioned a feasibility study to examine the possibility of locating a PE hall on the site of the Presentation secondary school in Loughboy, County Kilkenny. An examination of this report is now nearing completion.

The Deputy will appreciate that the feasibility study was necessary because of several difficulties associated with the provision of the proposed new gymnasium. Not least of these difficulties is the confined nature of the site. Additional complications arise because of the proximity of the school to the historically important Kilkenny city wall. In this regard, an archaeological report was also necessary to assist with the determination of how provision of the gymnasium might properly be made.

The Deputy is probably also aware that my Department has developed a template-designed physical education hall, which will be piloted in four schools nationwide in the very near future. Unfortunately, the site of the Presentation secondary school cannot accommodate the template because of the difficulties mentioned. In the circumstances, alternative solutions must be explored which not only satisfy the requirements of the school, but which are also architecturally sound and take due cognisance of the local historical environment. By the nature of the complexities involved, it is inevitable that the project may not proceed as expeditiously as others.

Officials from the post-primary building unit will be in contact with the school authority in relation to this matter as soon as the examination of the feasibility report has been completed.

Michael Ring

Question:

213 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science when the necessary funding will be provided to a school (details supplied) in County Mayo for new accommodation; the position in this regard; and when progress will be made on this matter. [18185/02]

My Department has an extensive primary school building programme under way at present and this includes a large number of projects at various stages of architectural planning, details of which are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

Decisions on additional projects proceeding to architectural planning are taken in the light of the annual allocation for capital projects, the financial commitments to be met and the priority to be afforded to individual projects. The programme for 2002 is in place and the schools concerned have been notified.

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 and this will involve putting more projects into architectural planning. The needs of the school in question will be considered at that time.

In the meantime, the school's board 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.

Question No. 214 answered with Question No. 197.

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