Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 1

Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.

Pat Breen

Question:

304 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will sanction the proposed extension to Rice College, Ennis, County Clare, which includes the upgrade of science laboratories and is at the final stage, stage 6, of the planning process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26469/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey):

The large-scale building project for Rice College 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 – pre-tender documents – of architectural planning. 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.