Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 April 2004
241 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Science when sanction will be given to a school (details supplied) in County Cork, to go ahead with works to build staff and visitor toilet facilities under the improvement works scheme. [10719/04]
View answerApplications for capital funding are prioritised and considered for inclusion in the school building programme. The 2004 school building programme was published in December 2003 and is available on my Department's website www.education.ie as are details of the criteria used in prioritising projects.
242 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason behind his Department’s decision to allocate €250,000 to a school (details supplied) in County Cork, in view of the fact that the new school, as had been promised, will now cost in the region of €750,000 and in view of matters (details supplied). [10720/04]
View answer246 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and the date that a review (details supplied) will take place. [10747/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 242 and 246 together.
The Aghina national school building project was listed in section 4 of the 2003 school building programme which was published on my Department's website at www.education.ie. It was planned that this project would be authorised to proceed to construction during 2003 subject to significant cost savings and a review of the enrolment levels later in the year. The school enrolment had declined significantly over the last number of years. Accordingly, the Department’s schools inspector visited the school to ascertain the enrolment intake in September 2003. The enrolment at September 2003 had fallen to 25 pupils. Department officials met with the chairperson and representatives of the board of management of the school last December and again on 22 March last, to discuss issues relating to the proposed school building project. An all-in grant of €250,000 was offered to the school management to address the accommodation issue. My Department is considering a response received from the school management regarding the building project and the proposed grant and will be responding to the board shortly.
