Vol. 543 No. 5
526 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the status of building plans for a school (details supplied); if the plans have been affected by recently announced spending cuts; when construction is likely to commence and finish; and if there are plans progressed to allow the school to open in temporary buildings. [27831/01]
The property management section of the Office of Public Works has been asked to report on the possibility of acquiring a site for the proposed school. The matter will be considered further as soon as the report is received.
527 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress being made regarding the site acquisition for the provision of a new national school in Rathmore, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27843/01]
My Department has received an application for grant aid towards the cost of a building project on a site to be provided in Rathmore, County Kerry. 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 the proposed project at Rathmore 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.
528 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the proposed extension works at Graiguecullen national school, County Laois. [27844/01]
The application referred to by the Deputy was recently received and is being examined in the planning and building unit of my Department. As part of this examination the school's current and projected enrolments and staffing levels are being taken into consideration along with details of demographic trends and housing developments in the area. A decision on the school's long-term accommodation requirements will be made and notified to the board of management as soon as possible.
