Schools Building Projects.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2006

Tuesday, 7 November 2006

Questions (398, 399, 400)

Seán Crowe

Question:

466 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will grant State funding to a school (details supplied) on County Dublin to be used as building funds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36255/06]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The proposed refurbishment and extension project for the school referred to by the deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. All projects in the Schools Building and Modernisation Programme are assessed on the basis of need against published prioritisation criteria.

As the Deputy will be aware, while some capital funding has traditionally been given to minority ethos fee-paying schools such as the Presbyterian school referred to, the amount of capital funding given to fee-paying schools has been extremely small in recent years. For example, in the period 1999-2004, the total amount of capital funding given to fee-paying schools represented just 1.6% of total second level capital expenditure.

Considerations of State support for minority religions has been an important factor in the provision of funding for such schools, given that much of the fee-paying sector has traditionally been made up of Protestant schools and those with a minority religious ethos.

Dan Neville

Question:

467 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Education and Science when an extension to a school (details supplied) will be completed. [36256/06]

Michael Collins

Question:

502 Mr. Collins asked the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has received an application from a school (details supplied) for an extension to the existing school building; and the status of this application. [36702/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 467 and 502 together.

An application has been received, from the school referred to by the Deputy, under the Small Schools Scheme 2007. The closing date for receipt of applications under this devolved scheme was 27 October 2006. The application will be assessed by my officials and the list of successful applicants for the scheme will be published as soon as possible.

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