The building project for the School referred to by the Deputy was listed among the 43 schools that I announced to start the architectural planning process in March of 2005. Substantial work on the early stages of the design process have already been completed.
My Department's officials have already had a preliminary meeting with the Local Authority Planners of Kilkenny Co. Council in order to address any possible conditions which the Local Authority may have in relation to the planning application and the School Authorities have been informed of the outcome of the meeting.
My Department has lodged the planning application for the School in question and a date for a decision on the planning application is due this month.
An information meeting was held in my Department's offices in Tullamore with the School's Design Team in September of this year regarding the stage 3 submission (developed sketch scheme) for the project.
When the complete stage 3 submission is received in my Department, my Officials will arrange a further meeting with the School's Design Team in order to evaluate the documentation. It is envisaged that unless there are very exceptional circumstances involved, the meeting will be sufficient to authorise the project to progress to the next stages of architectural planning.
My Department has at present no plans to provide a Post-Primary facility at this location.
Progression of projects to Construction will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.