Vol. 557 No. 1
237 Mr. O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will sanction the tender held by the building unit in his Department in respect of the landscaping of the Killinarden school grounds in the vicinity of the new sports hall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21101/02]
My Department has an extensive schools building programme under way at present. The programme includes a substantial programme of works scheduled to go to site in the course of the year as well as a large number of projects at various stages of planning. Decisions relating to additional works proceeding on site will be taken when the financial allocation has been made for the second level schools building programme for 2003, this school's application for funding towards the landscaping of the grounds at the PE hall will be reviewed and officials of my Department will be in direct contact with the school's management authority.
238 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the Knockanillo national school, Ballina, County Mayo; the date an application was made for the extra classroom; the stage it is at now; and a complete breakdown of it. [21102/02]
239 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount it costs for an extra classroom for a primary school (details supplied) in County Mayo; the amount his Department has granted to them; and the areas from which his Department expects the school to get the difference. [21103/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 239 together.
Architectural planning for a building project at the school in question is at an early stage. My Department has recently advised the school that, for financial reasons, the upper cost limit for their proposed project is €100,000. The school has been advised to extract from the architectural planning documentation those elements of the proposed project that are deemed to be of highest priority.
Decisions on projects such as this proceeding to tender and construction are taken in the light of the ability of the school's design team to work within this budget and the availability of funding from the annual allocation for primary school buildings for projects such as this.
240 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the stages of the approval process for the replacement of school buildings; the average duration of time to pass through each stage; and the exact stage in the process which a project at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5 has reached. [21104/02]
My Department's design team procedures apply to major school building projects and a full design team is engaged to address the architectural, structural, services and cost control aspects of projects. The design team procedures are in place to ensure that there is a consistent approach to the architectural planning of school buildings, with a view to ensuring quality school buildings built at a cost that represents value for money.
These procedures consist of six stages up to the point of construction. Some of these stages may also be combined depending on the nature and complexity of the project. The design and planning of the project is covered by stages one to five, during which the project is developed from the assessment of site suitability, through the detailed design, including the obtaining of planning permission, to the point where detailed bills of quantities are prepared.
At stage six tenders are sought in line with public procurement procedures and subsequently a tender report is prepared and examined. Assuming that the outcome of the tender process is acceptable in terms of procurement procedures, providing value for money and that funds are available to meet construction costs a construction contract is placed at that stage and the construction of the project begins.
The rate of progress to construction depends on factors such as the complexity and size of the project, the time required to undertake architectural planning, the volume of other projects being dealt with by the design team and my Department's building unit, the period of time required for the granting of planning permission and obtaining a fire certificate, the availability of funding, the relative priority of the project, the outcome of the tender competition and the procurement, where relevant, of bonds, insurance and tax clearance by prospective contractors.
The Deputy will appreciate, therefore, that in view of the nature and complexity of the architectural planning process, it would not be possible to be definitive above the average length of time it takes from initial approval to final completion. My Department has requested a combined stage one-two-three submission from the school referred to by the Deputy.
241 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps his Department intends to take in the short-term to deal with the overcrowding problem at St. Mary's national school, Bagenalstown, County Carlow; if a meeting will be arranged urgently between the board of management and his Department to resolve the issues; if the plans for the future of the school will be agreed with his Department and the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21105/02]
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. In view of the extensive nature of the programme, my Department has no plans at present to start architectural planning for further major primary school building projects. My Department will be reviewing the position in the light of the allocation to be made for the primary building programme in the 2003 Estimates.
In the meantime, board of management of St. Mary's national school, Bagenalstown, 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.
