Jack Wall
Ceist:201 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Kildare seeking gym facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4891/03]
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
The 2003 school building programme has recently been published and full details in relation to individual projects are available on my department's website at www.education.ie.
In view of the large scale of the programme and having regard to the level of financial commitments to be met from projects already in construction, my Department will not be in a position to proceed with the building project for the proposed PE Hall at St. Conleth's vocational school, Newbridge, County Kildare in 2003. The timing of when this project can progress, is dependant on the funding allocation for 2004 and subsequent years.
Jack Wall
Ceist:202 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the status a school deemed by his Department as disadvantaged has in regard to an application for the provision of better facilities, such as a gym; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4892/03]
The Deputy can access the criteria used for prioritising large scale schools building projects on my Department's website at www.education.ie.
Jack Wall
Ceist:203 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of applications to his Department for the provision of gyms at secondary schools; the position of his Department's proposed template in regard to such gyms; if work has commenced on any of the four pilot schemes in regard to such a template; when it is expected that schools seeking such a facility will be informed of their position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4895/03]
My Department's building unit has approximately 152 applications on hands for the provision of physical education halls in postprimary schools nationwide. The future progression of these projects through architectural planning is dependent on the successful implementation of the template designed halls. The four template halls which form the pilot scheme are at an advanced stage of architectural planning, stage 4/5 the pre-tender stage.
Given the level of financial commitments to be met from projects already in construction I do not envisage that my Department will be in a position to allow further large scale projects, including the four template physical education halls, to progress to tender and construction during 2003. A letter will issue to all schools involved shortly outlining the position. These projects will be considered for the 2004 schools building programme.
Full details of the published 2003 schools building programme are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.