Vol. 553 No. 7
129 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science when a school (details supplied) in Dublin 8 will be authorised to obtain a new portakabin for September 2002; and when his Department will progress the building plans for the new school building. [15065/02]
My Department has recently approved the provision of an additional temporary classroom at the school in question.
In relation to the permanent building, 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 the school in question 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 multiannual dimension into the published programme so that schools will have an indication of the expected timelines relating to their project.
