Vol. 554 No. 5
794 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Science when work will commence on the extension works to St. Joseph's national school, Riverstown, Glanmire, County Cork; the reasons for the delay in this work; and if the necessary resources are in place to complete this work. [17493/02]
Architectural planning for a building project at St. Joseph's national school, Riverstown, Glanmire, County Cork is at an early 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 St. Joseph's national school, Riverstown, 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.
795 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will consider the request from County Waterford Vocational Educational Committee to provide a badly needed sportshall at Meánscoil San Nioclás, An Rinn, Dungarvan, County Waterford in view of the problems that will arise in the school without such a facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17494/02]
A new school catering for 100 pupils is under construction for Meánscoil San Nioclas at a cost of more than €1.7 million. This school will also be furnished and equipped to current standards at significant cost. The second level school building programme has expanded greatly in the past number of years. However, in addition to building new schools and extending existing schools in areas of increasing population, much of the available funding is being directed towards bringing existing school accommodation up to an acceptable standard and providing schools with the accommodation necessary to enable them to deliver the core curriculum to their pupils.
For many years, this Department was not in a position to undertake a comprehensive programme of refurbishing, developing and, where necessary expanding, the second level school infrastructure. This has led to a position where many schools are urgently in need of significant capital expenditure, so that the demand for funding from the second level capital programme is very heavy. It is in this context that my Department will not be in a position to consider funding the provision of a PE hall at the school.
