Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 December 2005
320 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science if a viability study was carried out regarding the relocation of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; the results of this viability study; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39633/05]
View answer321 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason she has decided to go ahead with the development of a new school building (details supplied) in County Kildare in view of the previous stalling of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39634/05]
View answer325 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science if funding has been made available for a new school building (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39638/05]
View answer328 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation regarding a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; the plans for the future of same; when completion is expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39643/05]
View answerI propose to take Question Nos. 320, 321, 325 and 328 together.
The building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an early stage of architectural planning. However, due to a continuing decline in enrolments and the level of investment which would be required to facilitate a relatively small number of pupils, it was decided not to allow the proposed project to progress through architectural planning until a complete review of the long-term viability of the school had been carried out. This practice is common to all large scale capital projects before they can be considered for inclusion in a capital programme.
The project was initially planned for a long-term projected enrolment of 400 pupils based on demographic information available at that time. In the event, the population did not increase as expected and enrolment in the school continued to decline as it has done for over ten years. This was rightly a matter of concern to my Department given the level of investment which it was being required to make. The review of the project has been completed and progress on the proposed project is now being considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme from 2006 onwards. The school authority has been notified accordingly.
