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Schools Building Projects.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2004

Wednesday, 15 December 2004

Questions (257, 258, 259)

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

271 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if details of multi-annual building programme will be announced before the year end 2004 as promised by her; and if she has included St. Colmcille’s junior and senior school, Knocklyon, where work is now urgently required. [33729/04]

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Written answers

I have previously indicated that the introduction of multi-annual capital envelopes by the Department of Finance requires a revised approach to how we schedule projects through the design process and on to tender and construction. Projects need to be in the pipeline so that there is a smooth flow of projects through all stages. The approach of trying to declare in advance in one annual announcement the precise projects that will be ready to go to tender and construction at any time during the following 12 months is problematic. There was little other choice but to do so when funding was only certain for one year. The 2004 programme had been prepared before the introduction of the multi-annual envelope in December of last year and therefore did not provide the opportunity for a more radical approach in line with the multi-annual innovation.

Looking at the experience of the past year when a number of projects that were announced in December and January last to go to tender and construction encountered difficulties and got delayed by some months, I have decided to make a number of key changes in how project approvals for primary and post-primary schools in future will be announced.

Critical to maintaining a smooth flow and ensuring that other projects are ready to go to tender and construction, I will be progressing those projects that are either in the early design phase or have not yet commenced design. Early in 2005 I will be providing details of those projects and notifying the schools concerned.

In this way I want to create a sustained momentum in the schools building programme to match the Government's multi-annual funding commitment. The applications for additional accommodation for the schools referred to by the Deputy will be considered for progression as part of the 2005 building programme.

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

272 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the provision of funding for the development of a new national school at a location (details supplied) in County Cork. [33791/04]

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The property management section of the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, is currently exploring the possibility of acquiring a site for the school in question.

Due to the commercial sensitivities of site acquisitions, it is not proposed at this stage to identify specific sites to be acquired. However, this information will be placed on my Department's website when the relevant acquisitions have been completed. The question of the provision of the new accommodation for the school will be considered further when a site has been acquired.

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

273 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an application for funding in respect of a primary school (details supplied) in County Cork. [33792/04]

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The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. It has a band 1 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 be providing 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.

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