Schools Building Projects.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 June 2004

Wednesday, 30 June 2004

Questions (171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180)

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

234 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding negotiations between his Department and the authorities at the Kildare VEC about a school (details supplied) in County Kildare with particular reference to relocation of the school to an alternative site; the state of these discussions; the imminence or otherwise of a favourable decision on the issue; the likely schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19815/04]

Written answers

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

The question of the relocation of St. Patrick's post-primary school, Naas, County Kildare, to an alternative site is under examination in my Department at present. Discussions have been held with County Kildare Vocational Education Committee and the local authority in the matter. These discussions are ongoing and it is not possible to indicate at this stage when they may be concluded and a decision taken in the matter.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

235 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in regard to the provision of the extra permanent classrooms at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19816/04]

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

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that provision was made for additional accommodation to be provided at the school to which he 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.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

236 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of national schools in County Kildare which he intends to improve, extend and upgrade in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19817/04]

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

The school building programme for 2004 has been published and full details about individual projects, including those in County Kildare, are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

When publishing the 2004 school building programme, I outlined that my strategy going forward will be grounded in capital investment based on multi-annual allocations. My officials are reviewing all projects which were not authorised to proceed to construction 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 onwards and I expect to be in a position to make further announcements on this matter in the course of the year.

The multi-annual building programme, when published, will provide a comprehensive picture detailing all planned building projects, including those for Kildare area.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

237 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in regard to the provision of the extra facilities required at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19818/04]

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

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the extension project for the school in question is listed for proceeding to tender and construction as part of the 2004 school building programme. My Department's school building section recently received the pre-tender documentation for this project. My Department expects to be in a position very shortly to authorise the school authority to proceed to tender with this project.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

238 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in regard to the provision of the extra facilities required at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19819/04]

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

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.

Indicative time scales have been included for large scale projects proceeding to tender in 2004. 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 referred to by the Deputy. I will make a further announcement in that regard during the year.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

239 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress to date in regard to the provision of the extra facilities required at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; his predictions in this regard over the foreseeable future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19820/04]

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

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the new school project for the school in question is listed for proceeding to tender and construction as part of the 2004 school building programme. The tendering process has been completed and construction work has commenced.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

240 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress which has taken place or action proposed to address the accommodation issues at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19821/04]

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

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the extension and refurbishment project for the school in question is listed for proceeding to tender and construction as part of the 2004 school building programme. The tendering process has been completed and the school's design team is currently preparing its tender report.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

241 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress he has achieved in acceding to the requests of the authorities at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare for the provision of extra facilities thereat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19822/04]

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

The school planning section of my Department has not received any application for capital funding from the school to which the Deputy refers.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

242 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress to date in regard to the provision of the extra facilities required at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19823/04]

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

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the extension project for the school in question is listed for proceeding to tender and construction as part of the 2004 school building programme. The tendering process has been completed and the school authorities were recently authorised to place a contract for this project.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

243 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when he proposes to address the issue of extra accommodation requirements at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19824/04]

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

The 2004 building programme has been published and full details on individual projects are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. On the basis of the funding allocation and the competing priorities for that funding, it was not possible to include the project for the school referred to by the Deputy in the 2004 building programme.

However, a key strategy for the future will be grounded on the budget day announcement of multi-annual allocations for capital investment in education projects. All projects that are not going to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme will be re-evaluated with a view to including them as part of a multi-annual programme from 2005 onwards. The school in question will be included in this process. I expect to be in a position to make a further announcement in this matter during 2004.