Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.

John Perry

Ceist:

1231 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science when the extension for Carbury national school, the Mall, Sligo will be granted; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this school has inadequate accommodation to facilitate six teachers and 146 pupils; the progress which has been made regarding the selection of the preferred scheme option; the further steps which have been taken to allocate moneys for the extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1777/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

The allocation for primary buildings in 2002 is 153.6 million, which is a record level of funding and demonstrates this Government's commitment to improving the accommodation situation in primary schools. This is almost four times the previous Government's investment in 1997.

Because of the greatly increased level of activity in the primary buildings area since this Government came into office, there has been a substantial increase in the number of major and minor building projects in construction and this has given rise to a record level of building and refurbishment activity.

A building project at Carbury national school is part of the Government's programme. The project will proceed to architectural planning and to the preparation of tender documents, as soon as it is possible under the expanded building programme.