Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 26 Jun 2002

Vol. 553 No. 6

Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.

Gay Mitchell

Ceist:

110 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the expected cost of projects based on the published list of approved school capital projects; the length of time it will take to complete these projects based on expenditure in 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14790/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

The extensive building programme published by my predecessor earlier this year was sub-divided into projects either in construction, approved to go to tender, tenders accepted, works during the summer holiday period or at various stages of architectural planning. The estimated expenditure on the building programme for 2002 is €172.6 million at primary level and €183.729 at second level.

The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be possible to provide precise information in relation to the length of time it will take to complete all those projects published on the schools building programme except for those projects approved for works during the summer holiday period. These are expected to be completed later this year. The completion of all other projects depends on a number of factors such as the size and complexity of the project, the length of time it takes to complete architectural planning, site acquisition issues where relevant, the local authority planning process and the commitments to be met within the annual financial allocation.

Later this year, when the annual financial allocations have been made for the school building programme in the 2003 Estimates, I will frame a further comprehensive programme of works that will proceed to construction. I intend to publish this programme at that time.

Question No. 111 answered with Question No. 56.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

112 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the progress being made to address the critical need for refurbishment and expansion at Loreto secondary school, Balbriggan, County Dublin; and the timeframe for this work to be done. [14754/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

In recent years my Department provided funding in the amount of €1.275 million towards extension and refurbishment at Loreto secondary school, Balbriggan, County Dublin.

In October 1999 my Department received an application for funding towards a very substantial extension and refurbishment of the school. Following a detailed examination of the application and of the likely future accommodation needs of the school, my Department approved the appointment of a design team to undertake the architectural planning of this project. A design team consists of the architect, the quantity surveyor, the mechanical and electrical engineer and the structural engineer. The school management authority, in line with the relevant EU and national procurement procedures, has now appointed a design team.

Recently officials from my Department met the school authority and their design team to agree a programme for the preparation and submission of the architectural planning stages. The school authority has been authorised to instruct its design team to prepare and submit stage 1, site suitability, briefing and site report. An indicative timeframe has been agreed between the school management authority, the design team and my Department for the rest of the architectural design process up to the award of a construction contract.

Typically construction of this type of project will take a period of from 14 to 16 months. The aim is to have the extension complete and ready for use by September 2005. I am confident the school management authority, the design team and my Department will make every effort to achieve this. However, the Deputy will understand that I cannot give a definitive completion date for the project at this early stage.