Vol. 551 No. 2
509 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps he will take to eliminate the red tape concerning applications by schools for necessary refurbishment and extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9864/02]
The Deputy will appreciate that the rate of progress to construction of projects depends on factors such as the complexity and size of the project, the time required to undertake architectural planning, the volume of other projects being dealt with by the design team and my Department's building unit, the period of time required for the granting of planning permission and obtaining a fire certificate, the availability of funding, the outcome of the tender competition and the procurement, where relevant, of bonds, insurance and tax clearance by prospective contractors.
Many of these items are statutory requirements or public procurement obligations and may not be unilaterally dispensed with by my Department. However, within these constraints, every effort is made to keep delays on individual projects to a minimum.
