Willie Penrose
Question:681 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress made to date by his Department in the provision of a new school at Curraghmore, Mullingar, County Westmeath. [21166/03]
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
The 2003 capital programme has been published and full details of 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 under construction, my Department does not envisage that it will be in a position during this year to allow further large-scale projects, including that at Curraghmore, to commence architectural planning. The timing of when the project at Curraghmore can commence architectural planning is dependent on the financial allocation for 2004 and subsequent years and the competing priorities for that funding by reference to the published criteria for prioritising large-scale projects. In the meantime, individual schools should, as appropriate, use their devolved grant to deal with any urgent health and safety works.
Willie Penrose
Question:682 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will immediately approve an application for increased permanent accommodation by Sonna national school, County Westmeath as the school is grossly overcrowded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21168/03]
An application for grant aid for additional accommodation has been received from the management authorities of Sonna national school, County Westmeath. The school planning section of my Department has examined the application and recommendations on the long-term accommodation needs of the school have been forwarded to the building unit.
The timing of when the project can commence architectural planning, however, is dependent on the capital allocation for 2004 and subsequent years and the competing priorities for that funding by reference to the published criteria for prioritising large-scale building projects.
Emmet Stagg
Question:683 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will sanction the provision of additional permanent accommodation at St. Corban's primary school, Naas, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21169/03]
Emmet Stagg
Question:696 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the accommodation crisis at St. Laurence's NS, Sallins, County Kildare and to the fact that a further net intake of 141 pupils is expected in September 2004; if, in view of this ongoing crisis, he will sanction the required extension to the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21182/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 683 and 696 together.
There is a large number of applications on hand within my Department for grant aid towards improvement works.
The 2003 capital programme has been published and my Department does not intend to allow further large-scale projects into architectural planning during 2003. The timing of when individual projects can progress to architectural planning will depend on the budgetary provision 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, as appropriate, use their devolved grant to deal with any urgent health and safety works.