Vol. 554 No. 5
762 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if officials in his Department have concluded their examination of the proposals to move St. Patrick's post-primary school, Naas, County Kildare, to a new site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17418/02]
776 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in regard to the provision of future facilities for St. Patrick's College, Naas, County Kildare; the extent to which agreement has been reached in regard to site acquisition and location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17467/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 762 and 776 together.
The proposal from the chief executive officer of County Kildare Vocational Education Committee to dispose of the existing St. Patrick's post-primary school, Naas, County Kildare, and to provide new accommodation on a new site has been considered. Having received legal advice in connection with the outcome of the process which raised a number of concerns, my Department's post-primary building unit has informed the chief executive officer that it is not in a position to approve the transaction. In the circumstances the building unit has recently authorised the chief executive officer to seek an alternative site and a response is awaited.
Questions Nos. 763 to 766, inclusive, answered with Question No. 754.
767 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if the Office of Public Works have been successful in purchasing a site for a new national school in Kill, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17423/02]
The property management section of the Office of Public Works is acting on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally and is currently exploring the possibility of acquiring a site for Kill national school, County Kildare. The school authorities will be kept informed of developments.
768 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will authorise the detail to design for the required extension to Maynooth post-primary school, Maynooth, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17429/02]
788 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delay in the provision of the facilities required at Maynooth post-primary school, Maynooth, County Kildare; if his attention has been drawn to the acute shortage of classroom space at the school resulting in restriction of school activities and extra curricular activity; if the necessary funds are available to proceed with this work immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17479/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 768 and 788 together.
The stage 3 – developed sketch scheme – has been examined within my Department's post-primary building unit. It has been necessary to seek further clarification on a number of items from the chief executive officer of County Kildare VEC and his design team regarding this submission. A response to these queries is currently awaited. When a response is received and the examination completed, subject to all being satisfactory, the question of allowing the project to proceed to stage 4 – detailed design – will be considered in the light of the available capital for 2003 and current commitments.
Question No. 769 answered with Question No. 754.
