Skip to main content
Normal View

Schools Refurbishment.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 June 2004

Wednesday, 30 June 2004

Questions (161, 162, 163)

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

224 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to be in a position to provide the extra facilities required at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare which was built to cater for 650 students but now caters for 811; his views on the fact that toilet facilities are totally inadequate for staff and students alike and, taking into consideration that the Kildare VEC obtained planning permission on 18 December 2001 from Kildare County Council to build a ten room extension and full size gymnasium to cater for 850 students, that the facilities at present are totally inadequate resulting in serious health and safety issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter with a view to early resolution. [19805/04]

View answer

Written answers

A large scale building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is listed in section 9 of the 2004 school building programme which is published on my Department's website at www.education.ie. This project is at early stages of architectural planning. My Department has assigned it a ’band 3’ rating, in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising large scale projects. The budget announcement regarding multi-annual capital envelopes will enable me to adopt a multi-annual framework for the school building programme, which in turn will give greater clarity regarding projects that are not progressing to tender in this year’s programme, including the school to which the Deputy refers. I will make a further announcement in that regard during the year.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

225 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to be in a position to provide the extra facilities required at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19806/04]

View answer

As I recently announced, over the remainder of this school year a new school planning model involving published draft area development plans will be piloted in five areas. Included in the pilot scheme is the area around the N4 from Leixlip through Kilcock, including Maynooth and Celbridge, Enfield, Longwood, Kinnegad and Rochfortbridge to Kilbeggan. The school to which the Deputy refers is included in this plan, which was published on my Department's website on 29 June 2004.

The purpose of this new approach to school planning is to ensure that, in future, the provision of school infrastructure will be decided only after a transparent consultation process. Parents, trustees, sponsors of prospective new schools and all interested parties in the locality will have the opportunity to express their views in the process, following which individual plans will set out the blueprint for schools' development in an area covering a period of up to ten years.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

226 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when it is expected to provide extra facilities required at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19807/04]

View answer

Provision was made for additional accommodation to be provided at the school to which the Deputy refers, as part of my announcement of an additional €30 million investment in school buildings. My Department has devolved authority and responsibility for the delivery of this project to the school and its design team. The tendering process has commenced and it is envisaged that enabling works will be carried out over the summer months and the remainder of the project will proceed to construction later in the year.

Top
Share