Vol. 555 No. 3
187 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Science if a site has been identified for the proposed new school at Cahergal, Tuam, County Galway; if his Department has the necessary funding at its disposal to pay for the site in 2002; the various stages that this project must go through before the school is built; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18469/02]
The property management unit of the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, is currently exploring the possibility of acquiring land for the purposes of catering for the long-term accommodation requirements of Cahergal national school.
188 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the proposed extension to Brierfield national school, Tuam, County Galway; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the board of management has agreed to the extension being done in two stages and that such plans have been made available to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18470/02]
Architectural planning for a building project at Brierfield 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. 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 Brierfield 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.
