Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 Mar 2002

Vol. 551 No. 2

Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.

John Perry

Ceist:

463 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science when the extension to St. Patrick's national school, Calry, County Sligo will commence; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that it has only six permanent classrooms, no general purpose room, no library, no medical room, no secretary's office, no storeroom, uses prefabs which are unsuitable and will have to use a further prefab, if the extension does not commence; the steps which have been taken to ensure that the moneys are allocated; the amount of funding granted; the timescale involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9688/02]

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 accommodation 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.

St. Patrick's national school, Calry, County Sligo is being extended-refurbished as part of the Government's programme as is currently in architectural planning. The project will continue to the invitation of tenders, as soon as possible, under the expanded building programme.