The rate of progress to construction depends on factors such as the complexity and size of the project, the time required to undertake architectural planning, the volume of other projects being dealt with by the design team and my Department's building unit, the period of time required for the granting of planning permission and obtaining a fire certificate, the availability of funding, the outcome of the tender competition and the procurement, where relevant, of bonds, insurance and tax clearance by prospective contractors.
The large scale project for Presentation Convent, Maynooth, is listed in section 7 of the school building programme. Projects listed in Section 7 of the programme are at an early stage of architectural planning and will not be authorised to progress beyond their current stage of architectural planning for the time being. The budgetary allocation for 2004 and subsequent years will determine the rate of progress on these projects.