Vol. 553 No. 2
299 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the application by Ballinagore national school, Mullingar, County Westmeath, for additional necessary accommodation; if same will be provided as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13053/02]
Architectural planning for a building project at Ballinagore national school is at an early 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 Ballinagore 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 the school concerned 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 timeframes relating to their project.
300 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science the position concerning a new school building at Our Lady's Bower secondary school, Retreat Road, Athlone, County Westmeath; if his attention has been drawn to the serious concerns regarding the safety of the present prefab classrooms at this location; if this major project can be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13054/02]
Regarding the extension at Our Lady's Bower secondary school, Retreat Road, Athlone, County Westmeath, my Department has recently received an educational worksheet from the school's management authority. Information contained in the educational worksheet will enable staff of the building unit in my Department compile a schedule of overall accommo dation, the first step in quantifying the school's total accommodation needs.
