Vol. 553 No. 2
247 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science when the proposed building project for Scoil Eoin primary school Balloonagh, Tralee, County Kerry, will proceed to architectural planning and to the preparation of tender documents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12999/02]
My Department has an extensive primary school building programme under way at present and this includes a large number of projects at various stages of architectural planning.
Decisions on additional projects proceeding to architectural planning are taken in the light of the annual allocation for capital projects, the financial commitments to be met and the priority to be afforded to individual projects. The programme for 2002 is in place and the schools concerned have been notified.
Later this year when a financial allocation has been made for the primary school building programme in the 2003 Estimates, I will be framing a further comprehensive programme of works and this will involve putting more projects into architectural planning. The needs of Scoil Eoin primary school, Balloonagh, Tralee, will be considered at that time.
It is my intention to bring greater transparency to the operation of the school building programme and I intend to publish the programme annually. I am also anxious to build a multi-annual dimension into the published programme so that schools will have an indication of the expected timelines relating to their project.
248 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science when tenders will be invited for the extension and refurbishment of Curranes national school, Castleisland, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13000/02]
Architectural planning for a building project at Curranes national school is at an advanced stage. Decisions on projects proceeding to tender and construction are taken in the light of the annual allocation for primary school buildings, the financial commitments to be met and the priority to be afforded to individual projects. An extensive building programme for 2002 has already been approved and published. It is not envisaged that the proposed building project at Curranes national school will proceed to construction in 2002.
Later this year when a financial allocation has been made for the primary school building programme in the 2003 Estimates, I will be framing a further comprehensive programme of works that will proceed to construction and Curranes national school will be one of those considered for inclusion in that programme.
It is my intention to bring greater transparency to the operation of the school building programme and I intend to publish the programme annually. I am also anxious to build a multi-annual dimension into the published programme so that schools will have an indication of the expected timelines relating to their project.
249 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the provision of additional accommodation at Mercy secondary school, Mounthawk, Tralee, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13001/02]
The planning section of my Department is carrying out an examination of the future accommodation requirements of each of the post-primary schools in the Tralee area. As part of this examination, factors such as housing developments, current and projected enrolments, and the current capacity of schools in the area are being considered.
My Department's assessment at this point is that the schools in Tralee have sufficient capacity between them to cater for the current number of pupils attending primary school in the catchment area. The data underpinning this assessment are being made available to each of the schools and it is intended that these data will form the basis for discussions between my officials and representatives of the school authorities to progress the matter. It is proposed that these discussions will take place at the earliest date suitable to all the parties concerned.
