Ciarán Cuffe
Question:127 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of years it will take at current rates to complete the school building programme. [22788/03]
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
It is not possible to provide an indicative realistic timeframe for modernising school accommodation across the entire country. This is because the rate of progress of individual building projects depends on a broad range of factors including the speed or otherwise of procuring a suitable site; the complexity and size of each individual project; the time required to undertake and complete architectural planning; the period of time required to comply with the requirements of the various regulatory authorities and the availability of funding. Additionally, available resources are required to address demands for new schools in rapidly developing areas; to provide accommodation for pupils with special needs; to provide for diversity within the educational system as well as tackling the historic under-investment in educational infrastructure.
Accordingly, the Deputy will appreciate the inherent difficulties in attempting to provide even a rudimentary timeframe in this matter.