Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 February 2005
67 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which it is expected to progress the school building and refurbishment programme at primary and second level in 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2990/05]
View answerI recently announced details of 122 major school building projects that will progress to tender and construction over the next 12 to 15 months. My Department's building unit arranged a general information meeting for these schools to guide them through the process involved in moving projects to tender and construction. The meetings took place on 31 January and 1 February in Tullamore and all schools were invited to attend.
I am anxious to ensure that a consistent flow of projects to tender and construction can be sustained into the future. I plan to make a number of announcements in the near future in regard to the schools building and modernisation programme including: 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.
