Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 3

Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.

Michael Ring

Question:

50 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if a catchment area has been defined for the proposed vocational school in Newport, County Mayo; if Mayo VEC has submitted details on the catchment area to his Department; and if a copy of the catchment area and the numbers of the catchment area can be made available. [16284/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

An official catchment area for the proposed second level school in Newport has not been defined and details in this regard have not been submitted to my Department by County Mayo VEC.

The review of second level provision in the Newport area is ongoing in the planning section of my Department. Pending the outcome of this review, no further action is being taken in relation to the development of the proposed school, including the determination of an official catchment area.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

51 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans to facilitate the provision of a Gaelscoil in Portlaoise to ensure that children there can be educated through the medium of Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16286/03]

Olwyn Enright

Question:

52 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science when the Gaelscoil, Portlaoise will obtain funding to move to a new site on the Mountrath Road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16287/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 52 together.

Gaelscoil Portlaoise was established with provisional recognition in September 1998 to cater for the demand in the area for primary education through the medium of Irish. The school was granted permanent recognition by my Department in September 2000. The gaelscoil is currently housed in temporary accommodation in the Prison Officers Club, Portlaoise. My Department grant-aids 95% of the rental costs on these premises.

The securing of interim accommodation, pending the availability of resources from my Department to provide permanent accommodation for the school, remains the responsibility of the patron body. I am aware that the gaelscoil is seeking alternative accommodation for September 2003. The school authorities have submitted a proposal which would involve the rental of an undeveloped site on the Mountrath Road and the placing of temporary accommodation thereon, as a solution to its impending accommodation problems.

There are significant costs attached to this proposal in terms of site development, annual leasing of site and temporary portacabins and the financial implications will be carefully examined before a final decision is made. Officials from the planning and building unit of my Department are currently examining this proposal and are in regular communication with the school authorities in the matter. The most recent details on costings received are being analysed in the planning section in consultation with my Department's technical advisers. The school authorities will be advised of the Department's decision on the proposal as soon as possible.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

53 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a building programme for Clarecastle national school following commitments made by his Department in January 2001 and February 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16288/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

The proposed large-scale building project for Clarecastle school is listed in section 7 of the 2003 school building programme, which I published on my Department's website at www.education.ie. This proposed project is at an early 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.