Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2004
122 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the need for additional accommodation at a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and the timescale for the provision of same. [20894/04]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy applied for an additional temporary classroom for September 2004. In the context of the available funding and the number of applications for that funding, it was not possible to approve all applications for temporary accommodation this year and only those schools with an absolute and demonstrated need for additional accommodation were approved. All other schools, including the school referred to by the Deputy, are required as an interim measure to maximise the use of existing accommodation until my Department is in a position to make extra accommodation available.
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. I expect to be in a position to make further announcements on this matter in the course of the year. The application for additional accommodation from the school referred to by the Deputy will be considered in this regard.
