Vol. 566 No. 3
257 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the status of the extension to Elphin Community School, County Roscommon; if he has satisfied himself that the existing school meets with current health and safety standards; the liability to his Department if such standards are breached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12737/03]
The proposed extension at Elphin Community College is at an early stage of architectural planning, pre-planning permission. It is listed in section 7 of the capital programme for 2003 which is published on my Department's website. However, 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 architectural planning for further large scale building projects, including that at Elphin Community College, to progress beyond their current authorised this year. The timing of when the project can proceed is dependent on the financial allocation for 2003 and subsequent years. Elphin Community College operates under the aegis of the County Roscommon Vocational Education Committee. The onus is on the VEC to ensure that health and safety standards at the school are maintained.
