Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 6 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 2

Written Answers. - School Accommodation.

Paul Bradford

Ceist:

826 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has received a request for further school accommodation from the school authorities at Castlelyons national school, County Cork; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the response to this request from his Department is less than that actually required in the school; if he will re-examine his response to the Castlelyons national school requests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26632/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

My Department has received an application for grant-aid towards the cost of a building project at Castlelyons national school.

The Deputy will appreciate that there has been a massive and unprecedented increase in the funds allocated by this Government to the building programme at all levels. The allocation in the current year is £370.5 million – 470.4 million. This is almost four times the allocation made by the previous Government in 1997. This level of funding has enabled my Department to undertake a record number of building projects, and it is my intention to continue this rate of progress in overcoming the deficit arising from many past years and in meeting the needs of the present day.

Decisions relating to the rate of progress to construction of individual projects, including Castlelyons national school will be taken as in previous years in the light of the allocations to be made for school building purposes in the forthcoming Estimates.

Paul Bradford

Ceist:

827 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on whether a new school is urgently required to replace Rathan national school, Mallow, County Cork; if an application for such a new school was received in January 2001; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the present school is in extremely poor condition and includes prefabricated accommodation; if he will progress the new school application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26633/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

My Department has received an application for grant aid towards the cost of a building project at Rathan national school. The Deputy will appreciate that there has been a massive and unprecedented increase in the funds allocated by this Government to the building programme at all levels. The allocation in the current year is £370.5 million – 470.4 million. This is almost four times the allocation made by the previous Government in 1997. This level of funding has enabled my Department to undertake a record number of building projects, and it is my intention to continue this rate of progress in overcoming the deficit arising from many past years and in meeting the needs of the present day. Decisions relating to the rate of progress to construction of individual projects, including Rathan national school, will be taken as in previous years in the light of the allocations to be made for school building purposes in the forthcoming Estimates.