Fergus O'Dowd
Question:453 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress in the provision of a new primary school (details supplied) in County Louth. [4522/05]
View answerTuesday, 15 February 2005
Questions (398, 399, 400, 401)
Written answers
The new primary school to which the Deputy refers is being provided to accommodate the amalgamation of two schools. The project has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which were revised following consultation with the education partners, and its progress is being considered in the context of the school building programme. 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 on 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; schools that will be authorised to commence architectural planning.
John McGuinness
Question:454 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science the status of an application by a school (details supplied) in County Carlow for the provision of an extra classroom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4532/05]
View answerAn application for temporary accommodation to facilitate increasing enrolments has been received from the school authority to which the Deputy refers. All applications for temporary accommodation for the 2005-06 school year are being assessed in the school planning section of my Department. I intend to publish a list of the successful applicants shortly.
The school to which the Deputy refers has also an application with my Department for a major capital project, progress on which is being considered in the context of the school building programme. In this regard I recently announced the first phase of the 2005 school building programme which provided details of 122 major school building projects countrywide which will prepare tenders and move to construction during 2005.
This announcement is the first in a series of announcements I plan to make on 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; schools that will be authorised to commence architectural planning.
Olwyn Enright
Question:455 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science when work will commence on a new school building (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4533/05]
View answerTenders were recently received in respect of this project. The tenders are being assessed. Once it has been established that the tender is in order and the tender outcome is acceptable, it would be reasonable to expect the contractor to go on site within the following few months.
Olwyn Enright
Question:456 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her plans to provide a second level school in Donabate or Portrane; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4534/05]
View answerA new school planning model involving published area development plans is being piloted in five areas over this school year. Donabate and Portrane are included in the pilot scheme as part of an overall plan for the north Dublin, east Meath and south Louth area. The need for a new post primary school in that area will be considered in this context.
The purpose of this new approach to school planning is to ensure that, in future, the provision of school infrastructure will be decided only after a transparent consultation process. In this regard, parents, trustees, sponsors of prospective new schools and all interested parties from a locality will have the opportunity to have their voices heard in the process.
Arising from this process, an individual plan will set out the blueprint for the future of educational provision in an area, which will be the touchstone against which all decisions on capital investment will be made for the next decade. The draft plan for the north Dublin, east Meath and south Louth area is nearing completion in the school planning section of my Department and I hope to be in a position to publish it soon.