Vol. 552 No. 1
761 Mr. J. Brady asked the Minister for Education and Science the funding his Department provides in new school buildings for computer installation, including appropriate ducting and cabling in each classroom and computer room; and if each new building is left fully ready for computer installation. [11632/02]
The planning guidelines for primary schools, effective from January 2000 indicate, inter alia, that conduit ways for future computer networking should be provided in relevant classroom areas.
762 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if stages three, four, five and six of an application for a new school (details supplied) in County Westmeath have been approved by his Department; the date of each of these approvals; if funding has been approved for this school project; the date of this approval; if this project can now proceed to tender; and the expected time frame for the commencement and completion of this project. [11635/02]
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. 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.
A proposed new three classroom school at the location referred to by the Deputy is part of the Government's programme and is currently in architectural planning. The project will continue to the preparation of tender documents and the invitation of tenders under the expanded building programme.
