Paul Kehoe
Ceist:89 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Science the stage the proposed new national school Ballyoughter, County Wexford is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14018/02]
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
At present my Department has an extensive primary school building programme under way. 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 frame a further comprehensive programme of works and this will involve putting more projects into architectural planning. The needs of the school in question will be considered at that time.
I intend to bring greater transparency to the operation of the school building programme and 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.