Vol. 554 No. 5
532 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Education and Science if funding will be provided to the board of management of St. Mary's national school in Blessington to purchase the site available for the much needed primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15685/02]
The property management section of the Office of Public Works is at an advanced stage of negotiations for the acquisition of a site for the school referred to by the Deputy. The school authorities will be kept informed of developments.
533 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science when approval to go to tender will be given to a primary school (details supplied) in County Cork. [15686/02]
Architectural planning for a building project at the school referred to by the Deputy 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.
My Department has an extensive primary school building programme for 2002 under way at present, details of which are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. It is not envisaged that the proposed building project at the school in question 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 frame 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. My Department will be in contact with the schools concerned when the programme for 2003 is published.
