Vol. 555 No. 4
87 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the adequacy of his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 511 of 9 October 2002; if he will address the concerns of the parents, schoolchildren, and teachers of this school (details supplied) in Dublin 10; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18616/02]
My Department has an extensive primary school building programme under way at present, details of which are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. The school to which the Deputy refers and its current place on the building list is contained on that site and will be updated when any change occurs. In the meantime, the board of management of the school referred to by the Deputy should ensure that essential health and safety issues at the school are attended to. They should therefore continue to use the devolved grant for minor works and if the cost of any works of an emergency nature exceeds the amount available under the devolved grant, they may apply to my Department's building unit for grant-aid.
88 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the approval for tenders for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18617/02]
The pre-qualification of suitable contractors for the works in the school to which the Deputy refers is under way. When this process has been completed the question of allowing the works to proceed to tender stage will be considered.
89 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation with respect to the proposals for additional accommodation at Glendalough national school, County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18618/02]
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, details of which are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. 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. In the meantime, the school's board of management should ensure that essential health and safety issues at the school are attended to. They should therefore continue to use the devolved grant for minor works and if the cost of any works of an emergency nature exceeds the amount available under the devolved grant, they may apply to my Department's building unit for grant-aid.
90 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation with respect to the proposals for a new school at Lacken, County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18619/02]
My Department has recently informed the school authorities that it will not be in a position to proceed with the acquisition of a site for a new school building at Lacken in the foreseeable future. Architectural planning for a building project at the existing school site is at an early stage and my Department is currently reviewing how best this can meet the accommodation needs of the school. The school authorities will be kept advised of developments.
