Vol. 572 No. 3
302 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Education and Science when his Department intends to proceed with the development of a permanent school building for Littlepace; and when his Department intends to proceed with further primary schools in the area, particularly at Ongar. [23217/03]
The proposed provision of a permanent school building for Mary Mother of Hope primary school in Littlepace, Dublin 15, is listed in section 6 of the school building programme for 2003. This project is at stages four to five of architectural planning, namely, detail design/bill of quantities. It has been assigned a band one rating by my Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising large-scale primary school projects. This is the highest rating possible.
Due to the level of financial commitments to be met from projects already under construction, projects in section 6 of the school building programme will not be authorised to progress beyond their current stage of architectural planning for the time being. The timing of when these projects can proceed to tender and construction is dependent on the capital allocation for 2004 and subsequent years.
My Department is aware of the level of planned housing developments in the general Dublin 15 area. In this regard, following consultation with the local authority, a number of sites have been reserved for school provision, including a site at Ongar. While delivering accommodation in rapidly developing areas is a key priority of the school building section in my Department, the timing of this delivery is again dependent on the financial allocation for 2004 and subsequent years.
303 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department has been advised of a potential gift of up to two acres of land adjacent to Our Lady Mother of Hope primary school at Littlepace, Castaheany, Dublin 15, by the developer (details supplied) or a related company. [23218/03]
My Department is not aware of a potential gift of land to Our Lady Mother of Hope national school, Littlepace, Castaheany, Dublin 15.
304 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Education and Science his proposals to build a secondary school for the Littlepace-Castaheany-Ongar area; if his attention has been drawn to the crisis of second level school places in the area in view of the extraordinary level of house building in the area and the advanced planning in place for many thousands more houses in the area. [23219/03]
I am aware that the Dublin 15 area in general is experiencing substantial development. I do not, however, accept that there is a crisis in post-primary school provision in this area.
Officials of the school planning section of my Department, in conjunction with the local authority, are monitoring developments in the area to assess the likely impact on school provision. Already, through the local authority, sites for post-primary schools have been reserved at Phibblestown and at Hansfield. Additional measures required to address any identified deficiency in post-primary provision in the area will be considered as part of the 2004 school building programme.
