Róisín Shortall
Ceist:151 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the criteria used in the selection for approval of applications for major capital building projects in schools. [17584/01]
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
My Department's general design guidelines for primary and post-primary schools, in conjunction with individual schedules of accommodation, current design team procedures and room layouts specify the standards for the provision of new school accommodation. Applications for capital funding are assessed in the light of the norms set out in these documents.
Among the factors considered by my Department, prior to approving capital projects are the following: the extent of the overall capital allocation for school buildings; the requirements of an existing school or a developing area based on demographic projections; the fundamental reason for the project – for example, amalgamation, upgrading of existing accommodation, green-field site school in developing area; the estimated delivery date for the project; the scale of the proposed development as expressed in area and pupil numbers; the estimated cost of the proposed development; the availability of alternative accommodation solutions; the necessity for a site acquisition; the age and condition of existing buildings; the length of time from the initial application; the presence of an effective maintenance programme and the effective use at primary level of the devolved grant.
Questions Nos. 152 and 153 answered with Question No. 133.