Michael Creed
Ceist:651 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science when a new school (details supplied) in County Cork will proceed to construction. [8187/02]
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
Michael Creed
Ceist:652 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science when a project (details supplied) in County Cork will proceed to tender. [8188/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 651 and 652 together.
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.
Due to 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. I have recently instructed officials in the building unit of my Department to progress the building project for the school referred to by the Deputy, to proceed to the preparation of tender documents and the invitation of tenders as soon as the combined stage 4/5 of the architectural process has been completed.