Vol. 571 No. 1
698 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if the chief executive officer of County Kildare VEC has submitted a report in relation to the acquisition of a site for a new St. Patrick's post-primary school, Naas, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21184/03]
My Department is still awaiting the formal report from the chief executive officer of County Kildare VEC in relation to suitable sites for a new school for St. Patrick's post-primary school, Naas. On receipt and examination of the formal report from the chief executive officer my Department will be in further contact with the VEC on the matter.
However, the timing and progress with regard to the acquisition of a suitable site 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.
699 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science when architectural planning will commence for the school building project at Gaelscoil Uí Fhiach, Maynooth, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21186/03]
The 2003 capital programme has 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 under construction, my Department does not envisage that it will be in a position to allow further large-scale projects, including that at Gaelscoil Uí Fhiach, to commence architectural planning this year.
The timing of when this project can commence architectural planning is dependent on the financial allocation for 2004 and subsequent years and the competing priorities for that funding in reference to the published criteria for prioritising large-scale projects.
700 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science when architectural planning will commence in respect of the required extension to Tiermohan NS, Donadea, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21187/03]
An application for grant aid for additional accommodation has been received from the management authorities of Tiermohan NS, Donadea, County Kildare. The application has been examined in the School Planning Section of my Department and a recommendation on the long-term accommodation needs of the school has been agreed with the school authorities.
701 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science when architectural planning will commence in respect of the new building for Scoil Chóca Naofa, Kilcock, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21188/03]
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. 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 to allow any further large-scale projects, including that at Scoil Chóca Naofa, to commence architectural planning this year.
The timing of when the project at Scoil Chóca Naofa 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 building projects.
702 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will authorise the invitation of tenders for the building of the new school for Scoil Uí Riada, Kilcock, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21189/03]
The proposed large-scale building project for Scoil Uí Riada, Kilcock, County Kildare is in the early stages of architectural planning and is listed in section 7 of the 2003 school building programme which is published on my Department's website at www.education.ie. It 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 will not be authorised to progress beyond their current stage of architectural planning at this time.
Budgetary provisions in 2004 and subsequent years will determine the rate of progression to tender and construction of these projects in conjunction with the band rating individually assigned. In the meantime, individual schools should, as appropriate, use their devolved grant to deal with any urgent health and safety works.
703 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will authorise the completion of the architectural planning process for the building project for Maynooth Presentation Convent, Maynooth, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21190/03]
The proposed large-scale building project for Maynooth Presentation Convent, Maynooth, County Kildare is listed in section 7 of the 2003 school building programme which is published on my Department's website at www.education.ie. This proposed project is at stage 3 of architectural planning, developed sketch scheme. It 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 will not be authorised to progress beyond their current stage of architectural planning at this time.
Budgetary provisions in 2004 and subsequent years will determine the rate of progression to tender and construction of these projects in conjunction with the band rating individually assigned. In the meantime, individual schools should, as appropriate, use their devolved grant to deal with any urgent health and safety works.
704 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will authorise the invitation of tenders for the building project for Rathmore NS, Naas, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21191/03]
The large-scale building project for Rathmore NS, Naas, County Kildare school is listed in section 6 of the 2003 school building programme which is published on my Department's website at www.education.ie. This project is at stage 4/5 of architectural planning, pre-tender documentation. It 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 will not be authorised to progress beyond their current stage of architectural planning at this time.
Budgetary provisions in 2004 and subsequent years will determine the rate of progression to tender and construction of these projects in conjunction with the band rating individually assigned. In the meantime, individual schools should, as appropriate, use their devolved grant to deal with any urgent health and safety works.
