Vol. 561 No. 4
309 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the action he proposes to take to ensure that the construction of the new campus for the Cork School of Music goes ahead as planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4750/03]
Discusions between my Department and the Department of Finance are on-going in respect of the Cork School of Music project. A final decision on the project will be based on an assessment of the affordability of the project in the context of the competing demands on the available capital envelope. I expect to be in a position to communicate with the Cork Institute of Technology regarding the Cork School of Music project shortly.
Question No. 310 taken with Question No. 270.
311 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the estimated cost of the new school building projects completed under the NDP when they were first considered for approval; the cost when tenders were first approved; and the cost of the fully completed project. [4752/03]
I assume that the Deputy is referring to new build large-scale projects.
Design teams working on all large scale primary and post primary projects are required to adhere to cost parameters set down by my Department. Before large-scale projects are allowed to proceed to tender, an analysis of the cost of each project is undertaken to ensure value for money.
The NDP has not yet reached the half way stage of its life span. The vast bulk of major capital schools projects being delivered under the NDP are ongoing, as evidenced in the recently published 2003 programme of works which includes over 200 large scale projects either at construction or authorised to proceed to construction or where payments are outstanding. In the circumstances, the detailed information sought by the Deputy in regard to these projects is not yet available.
If the Deputy has any queries regarding a specific project, I will be happy to seek to obtain the information for him.
