Seán Ryan
Question:130 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science when funding will be provided to a school (details supplied) in County Clare to allow the school to provide proper facilities for its students. [14938/04]
View answerThursday, 20 May 2004
Questions (130, 131)
Written answers
The large-scale building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is listed in section 8 of the 2004 school building programme which is published on my Department's website at www.education.ie This project is at stage 3, developed sketch scheme, 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. It is planned to progress this project to advanced architectural planning during 2004.
The school authority recently made an application to my Department for grant-aid towards the provision of temporary accommodation. Only applications with an absolute and demonstrated need for additional accommodation were approved. The application from the school referred to by the Deputy was not successful on this occasion. Unsuccessful applications will be considered in the context of a review which is being undertaken of all projects that did not proceed as part of the 2004 school building programme with a view to including them as part of a multi-annual school building programme from 2005, details of which will be announced later in the year.
Joan Burton
Question:131 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the extraordinary growth of population in the Littlepace-Castaheany, Clonee, Dublin 15 area; and if he will bring forward the opening of a second level school for the area. [14939/04]
View answerThe position in the Dublin 15 area generally is quite complex because, while some post-primary schools in the area are full to capacity, others are in a position to offer places. Every effort is made to accommodate pupils in their school of first choice. However, no guarantees can be given in that regard.
The objective is to ensure that the existing schools can, between them, cater for demand within the area generally. However, in view of the current and planned level of housing developments in the Dublin 15 area, my Department has requested Fingal County Council to reserve two sites in the area for the possible future development of post-primary schools. The rate and pace of housing developments, the level of consequential increased demand and the availability of places in the overall Dublin 15 area will determine the timing for the acquisition and development of these sites.