Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Jun 2003

Vol. 569 No. 3

Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.

Paul McGrath

Question:

277 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the primary school building projects which have been approved to proceed during 2003 under the pilot scheme as announced by his Department; the expected cost of each project; and the projected timeframe for the completion of each of these projects. [17802/03]

Paul McGrath

Question:

278 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the financial cut-off point for primary school building projects which can be included in the pilot scheme programme. [17803/03]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 278 together.

The 2003 school building programme can be accessed on my Department's website at www.education.ie. Section 8 of the building programme lists the 20 schools that were invited to participate in a pilot initiative to all small schools undertake building and modernisation works on a devolved basis. The maximum level of grants under this initiative ranged from €100,000 to €350,000 depending on the size of each school and having regard to their level of pupil enrolments. As part of the recent update of the school building programme, my Department invited a further 20 pri mary schools to participate in a second pilot initiative that is aimed at reducing the amount of temporary accommodation required in primary schools. These schools are listed in section 13 of the updated programme. This initiative enables each of these schools to undertake a permanent solution to their immediate classroom accommodation needs within a maximum grant level of €100,000 per classroom. Under these initiatives, school authorities are responsible for project planning and construction and therefore the timeframe for the completion of each project is a matter for the relevant school authority.