Vol. 570 No. 4
203 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to be in a position to provide the extra facilities required at Scoil Nás Na Roigh, Naas, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19404/03]
My Department has recently given approval to the board of management to obtain tenders for the rental of one additional temporary classroom at the school. When tenders have been received my Department will be in further contact with the school authorities.
The question of permanent recognition will be considered when the Department is satisfied that long-term viability had been demonstrated and that the school is operating in accordance with the Rules for National Schools.
Until such time as permanent recognition is granted to the school, my Department will not consider purchasing a site to permanently accommodate the school. If and when permanent recognition is granted, budgetary factors will then determine the rate of progress on the acquisition of a site and on the delivery of permanent accommodation for the school.
204 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to be in a position to provide the extra facilities required at Scoil Uí Dálaigh, Kilcock, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19405/03]
An application in respect of major capital improvement works at Scoil Chearbhaill Uí Dhálaigh has been received in my Department. The application will be examined in the context of the school's current and projected enrolments and staffing levels and when these have been considered a decision will be made on the school's long-term accommodation needs.
It is not possible to say at this point when a project, which may result from these deliberations, will commence due to the large number of school building projects on hand within my Department.
Question No. 205 answered with Question No. 199.
206 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to be in a position to provide the extra facilities required at Scoil Uí Riada, Kilcock, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19407/03]
The proposed large-scale building project for Scoil Uí Riada is listed in section 7 of the 2003 school building programme which I published on my Department's website at www.education.ie. This project has been assigned a band 2 by my Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising large-scale projects and a design team has been appointed.
207 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to be in a position to provide the extra facilities required at St. David's School, Naas, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19408/03]
The 2003 capital programme has now been published and full details on individual projects are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie
An application for improved accommodation has been received from the management authorities of St. David's School. However, my Department does not intend to allow further large-scale projects into architectural planning during 2003. The timing of when individual projects can progress to architectural planning will depend on the budgetary allocation for 2004 and subsequent years, the rate of progress with existing projects in architectural planning and the priority afforded to each project by reference to the published criteria for prioritising large-scale building projects. In the meantime individual schools should use their devolved grant to deal with any urgent health and safety works.
208 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to be in a position to provide the extra facilities required at St. Mary's College, Naas, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19409/03]
The 2003 capital programme has been published and full details on individual projects are available on my Departments website at www.education.ie
The proposed extension at St. Mary's College, Naas, County Kildare is at an early stage of architectural planning and is included in section 7 of the published programme. In view of the scale of the programme, and having regard to the level of financial commitments to be met from projects already in construction, my Department does not envisage that it will be in a position during this year to allow architectural planning for large scale building projects including the project at St. Mary's College to progress beyond their current authorised stage. The timing of when this project will be authorised to proceed is dependent on the financial allocation for 2004 and subsequent years.
209 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to be in a position to provide the extra facilities required at St. Patrick's Post-Primary School, Naas, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19410/03]
The 2003 capital programme has been published and full details on individual projects are available on my Departments website at www.education.ie
The proposed extension at St Patrick's Post-Primary School, Naas, County Kildare is at an early stage of architectural planning and is included in section 7 of the published programme. In view of the scale of the programme, and having regard to the level of financial commitments to be met from projects already in construction, my Department does not envisage that it will be in a position during this year to allow architectural planning for large scale building projects including the project at St Patrick's Post-Primary School to progress beyond their current authorised stage. The timing of when this project will be authorised to proceed is dependent on the financial allocation for 2004 and subsequent years.
210 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to be in a position to provide the extra facilities required at St. Wolstan's School, Celbridge, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19411/03]
My Department has no application for extra facilities at St. Wolstan's School, Celbridge, County Kildare.
211 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to be in a position to provide the extra facilities required at Tiermoghan National School, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19412/03]
The 2003 capital programme has now been published and full details on individual projects are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie
An application for improved accommodation has been received from the management authorities of Tiermoghan National School. However, my Department does not intend to allow further large-scale projects into architectural planning during 2003. The timing of when individual projects can progress to architectural planning will depend on the budgetary allocation for 2004 and subsequent years, the rate of progress with existing projects in architectural planning and the priority afforded to each project by reference to the published criteria for prioritising large-scale building projects. In the meantime, individual schools should use their devolved grant to deal with any urgent health and safety works.
212 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if and when the necessary funding and facilities as promised are likely to be made available to St. Joseph's School for the Visually Impaired to facilitate the co-education needs of the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19413/03]
Arising from the report of a planning group, which was established to consider proposals for the development of a national centre for the visually impaired, my Department engaged a project team to consider an overall development strategy for the implementation of the planning group's report. The report of the project team was presented to my Department towards the end of 2002.
Having given careful consideration to the matter, I decided in April 2003 that the national centre as proposed should not proceed, having regard to the low and declining pupil numbers in the schools for the visually impaired and the development costs, estimated to be in excess of €30 million. However, my Department is willing to explore with the school authorities concerned how aspects of the proposed centre could be developed, in the context of available resources.
213 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to be in a position to provide the extra facilities required at Robertstown National School, Robertstown, Naas, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19414/03]
The proposed large-scale building project for Robertstown school is listed in section 6 of the 2003 school building programme which I published on my Department's website at www.education.ie This project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning and has been assigned a band 2 rating by my Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising large-scale projects.
Projects listed in sections 6 and 7 (primary) are not being authorised to progress beyond their current stage of architectural planning for the time being. The timing of when projects listed in these sections can progress to tender and construction will depend on the budgetary allocation for 2004 and subsequent years and the priority afforded to each project by reference to the band rating.
214 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to be in a position to provide the extra facilities required at Scoil An Linbh Íosa, Prosperous, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19415/03]
The proposed large-scale building project for Scoil An Linbh Íosa is listed in section 6 of the 2003 school building programme which I published on my Department's website at www.education.ie This project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning and has been assigned a band 1 rating by my Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising large-scale projects.
Projects listed in sections 6 and 7 (primary) are not being authorised to progress beyond their current stage of architectural planning for the time being. The timing of when projects listed in these sections can progress to tender and construction will depend on the budgetary allocation for 2004 and subsequent years and the priority afforded to each project by reference to the band rating.
Question No. 215 answered with Question No. 197.
216 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to be in a position to provide the extra facilities required at Coláiste Cois Life, Lucan, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19417/03]
The project to provide a new school for Coláiste Cois Life in Lucan, County Dublin, is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The stage 4/5 submission, detail design/bills of quantities, is currently being examined by officials in the building unit of my Department.
However, in view of the scale of the 2003 school building programme as published, and having regard to 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 authorise any additional large scale projects to proceed to construction in 2003. The timing of when this project can proceed to construction is dependent on the financial allocation for 2004 and subsequent years.
