Vol. 568 No. 1
420 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the timescale in regard to the provision of permanent site and classroom facilities at Scoil Nás Na Ríogh, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16047/03]
Gaelscoil Nás na Riogh, Naas, County Kildare was granted provisional recognition effective from September 2002. The school authorities were advised at that time that the question of permanent recognition would be considered when the Department was satisfied that long-term viability had been demonstrated and that the school was operating in accordance with the rules for national schools.
Until such time as permanent recognition is granted to the school, my Department will not consider purchasing a site to permanently accommodate the school. If and when permanent recognition is granted, budgetary factors will then determine the rate of progress on the acquisition of a site and on the delivery of permanent accommodation for the school.
421 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which it is intended to meet ongoing accommodation requirements at St. Mary's College, Naas, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16048/03]
The 2003 capital programme has now been published and full details in relation to individual projects are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. Given the level of financial commitments to be met from projects already in construction, I do not envisage that my Department will be in a position during this year to initiate architectural planning for any further large scale building projects, including the project at St. Mary's College, Naas. The project will, however, be considered in the context of the capi tal programme for 2004 and subsequent years. In recent years my Department has funded extensive roof and window works at the school in addition to providing an extension with specialist facilities.
422 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the degree to which he has agreed with the authorities at St. Patrick's post-primary school, Naas, County Kildare, with a view to alternative facilities; the extent to which agreement has been reached in relation to site requirements; when he expects to be in a position to give approval for the project to proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16049/03]
My Department's post-primary building unit will be considering all options submitted in respect of the future location of St. Patrick's post-primary school, Naas, including the provision of a new school on a greenfield site in Naas town environs. The preferred option will be the most advantageous from the educational, economical and architectural points of view. The chief executive officer of County Kildare VEC was authorised to advertise for a site and when the report on the outcome of this process has been submitted to my Department, the matter will be considered further.
423 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in regard to the provision of the extra facilities required at Scoil Iognaid Rís, Naas, County Kildare; his immediate and long-term proposals in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16050/03]
The 2003 capital programme has now been published and full details with regard to individual projects are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. The proposed extension project at Meanscoil Iognáid Rís, Naas, is currently in the early stages of architectural planning and is included in section 7 of the programme.
Given the level of financial commitments to be met from projects already in construction under the capital programme for 2003, I do not envisage that my Department will be in a position during this year to allow the project to progress beyond its current authorised stage. The further progress of the project will be considered in the context of the 2004 capital programme and subsequent years.
424 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which he intends to respond further to the accommodation requirements at St. David's primary school, Naas, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16051/03]
The 2003 capital programme has now been published and full details in respect of individual projects are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. An application for improved accommodation has been received from the management authorities of St. David's national school. My Department does not intend to allow further large scale projects to progress into architectural planning during 2003. The timing of when individual projects can progress to architectural planning will depend on the budgetary allocation for 2004 and subsequent years, the rate of progress with existing projects in architectural planning and the priority afforded to each project by reference to the published criteria for prioritising large scale building projects.
In the meantime, individual schools should use their devolved grant to deal with any urgent health and safety works.
