Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2004
260 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if the architectural planning of the new school for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare has been completed; if she will sanction the necessary capital to enable the project to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33713/04]
View answerThe school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. The introduction of a multi-annual funding process for schools building projects requires a revised approach to the scheduling of projects through the design process and on to tender and construction stages. To maintain a smooth flow of projects and ensure the optimum number of projects is ready to go to tender and construction at any given time, I will progress on a priority basis projects in the early design stages. I will provide further details of those projects and notify the schools concerned early in 2005. I intend through this approach to create a sustained momentum in the schools building programme which matches the Government's multi-annual funding commitment.
261 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if phase 2 of the extension project to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare will be sanctioned in 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33714/04]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that phase 1 of the extension project at the school to which he refers is under construction. Phase 2 is being considered as part of a review of all projects which did not proceed to construction as part of the 2004 schools building programme. Under the review, all projects are assessed against the published prioritisation criteria which were revised earlier this year following consultation with the education partners. Each project will be assigned a band rating and its progress considered in the context of the schools building programme from 2005 onwards.
262 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to the sanctioning of architectural planning for the required extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33715/04]
View answer263 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the expected growth which Kilcock town, County Kildare will experience in the short term and to the urgent accommodation requirements of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if she will sanction architectural planning for the school’s accommodation requirements forthwith; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33716/04]
View answer264 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will sanction temporary accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare in 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33717/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 262 to 264, inclusive, together.
Applications from the schools to which the Deputy refers are being considered as part of a review of all projects which did not proceed to construction as part of the 2004 schools building programme. Under the review, all projects are assessed against the published prioritisation criteria which were revised earlier this year following consultation with the education partners. Each project will be assigned a band rating its progress considered in the context of the schools building programme from 2005 onwards.
The commission on school accommodation recently completed the public consultation process on the draft area development plan for the N4-M4 area and will bring forward its report as soon as possible. Applications for capital funding from schools in the area will continue to be processed under the review to which I referred above. When the commission's report becomes available, appropriate adjustments will be made where necessary.
265 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will sanction funding for the required extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33718/04]
View answerThe building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. It has a band 3 rating.
The introduction of a multi-annual funding process for school building projects requires a revised approach to how projects are scheduled through the design process and on to tender and construction. In order to maintain a smooth flow of projects and ensure that the optimum number of projects is ready to go to tender and construction at any given time, I will progress on a priority basis those projects that are in the early design stages. I will provide further details of those projects and notifying the schools concerned early in 2005.
In this way, I want to create a sustained momentum in the schools building programme to match the Government's multi-annual funding commitment.
