Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2007
781 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science the position with regard to the provision of a new building for a school (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the school is currently housed in a football club in Santry; the timescale for the development of new school buildings for the 230 pupils and teachers currently working at the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9608/07]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that officials from the Department and a consultant architect met with the school authorities concerned in recent days to discuss the delivery of the building project in question.
782 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will approve funding for an application by a school (details supplied) in County Roscommon under the dormant accounts small scale capital grant scheme; when she will announce her Department’s decision on the successful projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9624/07]
View answerThe closing date for receipt of applications under the Dormant Accounts / RAPID Leverage Fund Small Scale Capital Grants Scheme was 1 March 2007. The Midland Regional Office of my Department received over 1,000 applications for the scheme, including applications from both of the schools referred to by the Deputies.
These applications are currently being logged and acknowledged. Once this process is complete, my officials will start the process of assessing the applications. In keeping with the requirements of the Dormant Accounts Fund legislation the assessed applications will then be considered by the Inter-departmental Committee on Educational Disadvantage, who will make recommendations to the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Minister Ó Cuív will then submit the list of recommendations to the Government for approval. Funding for approved projects will be channelled through my Department's Vote.
I cannot give an exact date of when the list of successful applicants will be announced, however, I hope to be able to make this announcement before the schools break for the summer holidays.
783 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science if a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be included in the devolved grant scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9625/07]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers applied for capital funding under the Department's Small Schools Scheme (SSS) for 2007. The school's application was unsuccessful at this time because the school's inspector recommended that the issue of amalgamation with another school in the area be investigated before any investment in capital works is made.
The school have been requested to report the outcome of discussions in this regard to the Department.
