Vol. 573 No. 2
110 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has proposals to undertake needed improvements at a school (details supplied); if the school involved has been designated as disadvantaged; and if this designation gives priority in respect of such projects. [24622/03]
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 in construction under the programme, my Department does not envisage that it will be in a position during this year to allow any further capital projects to commence.
My officials are unable to trace an application for capital funding from the school referred to by the Deputy. If accommodation works are required, the board of management should contact the school planning section of my Department directly in this matter.
I can confirm that the school in question has disadvantaged status. However, a higher priority is not given to a school building project where disadvantaged status applies on the basis that this status does not infer inadequate accommodation. In addition, the accommodation needs presenting at such a school may not be as urgent as those presenting elsewhere. In the circumstances, all applications for capital funding must be assessed on a competing priority basis in the context of the financial allocation for any given year.
