Vol. 568 No. 1
331 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of a significant increase in pupil numbers in September 2003 at a school (details supplied) and in particular as this school was designated up until the recent announcement for increased accommodation, a prefab will be provided to accommodate the increase in numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15378/03]
The 2003 school building programme has now been published and full details in relation to individual projects are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. On the basis of the budgetary allocation, it was not possible to include any further temporary accommodation projects in 2003. The budgetary allocation for 2004 and subsequent years will determine the rate of progress on projects that could not be included in this year's programme.
332 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation with regard to the purchase of a site for a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; when the building of this school will go ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15402/03]
My Department is currently examining contract documentation concerning the acquisition of a site which has been received from the Office of Public Works which acts as an agency to my Department generally. My Department will be in contact with the Office of Public Works concerning these documents as soon as possible.
333 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation with regard to the construction of a physical education hall for the Loreto College, Bray, County Wicklow; if there is a tender in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15403/03]
The school building programme for 2003 has been published and full details in relation to individual projects are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. The project at the Loreto secondary school in Bray, County Wicklow, is included in section 5 of the programme – tender received. Given the level of financial commitments to be met from projects already in construction, my Department does not envisage that it will be in a position during this year to authorise any further large scale projects, including that at the Loreto in Bray, to proceed to construction. The timing of when this project can proceed is dependent on the financial allocation for 2004 and subsequent years.
334 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation with regard to building works at a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15404/03]
The proposed large-scale building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is listed in section 6 of the 2003 school building programme which I published on my Department's website at www.education.ie. This proposed project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning and has been assigned a band 2 rating by my Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising large-scale projects. Projects listed in sections 6 and 7 – primary – are not being authorised to progress beyond their current stage of architectural planning for the time being. The timing of when projects listed in these sections can progress to tender and construction will depend on the budgetary allocation for 2004 and subsequent years and the priority afforded to each project by reference to the band rating.
