Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 February 2005
491 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science if her Department will provide the necessary funding to enable a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath to build a permanent extension under the developing schools initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4969/05]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy has applied to my Department for grant aid towards the construction of two new classrooms and associated ancillary accommodation. The project has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria which were revised following consultation with the education partners, and its progress, including delivery type, is being considered in the context of the school building programme.
In this regard, 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 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 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.
