Schools Building Projects.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2005

Wednesday, 26 January 2005

Questions (1063, 1064, 1065)

Michael Ring

Question:

1126 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science her plans to provide a permanent site for a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason this school was not included in the multi-annual funding programme for major school building projects announced recently; the length of time her Department has been looking for a site for this school; the progress which has been made on this matter; the sites which have been looked at; and when she expects to obtain a site for this school. [1375/05]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

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 referred to by the Deputy.

Due to the commercial sensitivities of site acquisitions, the information requested by the Deputy is not available for release at present. The question of the provision of new accommodation for the school will be considered further when a site has been acquired.

Dan Boyle

Question:

1127 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Education and Science the prospect of additional school space being provided at a school (details supplied) in County Cork. [1415/05]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The extension and refurbishment project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which were revised following consultation with the education partners, and is considered suitable for consideration for funding under one of the devolved initiatives.

The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced the first phase of the 2005 school building programme which provided details of 122 major school building projects country wide which will prepare tenders and move to construction during 2005. This announcement is the first in a series of announcements I plan to make in the coming period in relation to the schools building and modernisation programme that will include details of schools identified as suitable for construction under public private partnerships; an expansion of the number of schools that will be invited to deliver their building projects on the basis of devolved funding; details of schools with projects approved under the 2005 summer works scheme; schools whose projects will further progress through the design process; and schools that will be authorised to commence architectural planning.

Dan Boyle

Question:

1128 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress made towards providing improved school facilities in Ballygarvan, County Cork. [1416/05]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The property management section of the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, is continuing with negotiations for the purchase of a site for a new school in Ballygarvan, County Cork.

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 new accommodation for the school will be considered further when a site has been acquired.

Question No. 1129 answered with QuestionNo. 805.