Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2003

Vol. 571 No. 1

Written Answers. - Schools Refurbishment.

Gay Mitchell

Ceist:

538 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department will publish any reports it has on the conditions, safety and legal requirements of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 6W; the applications for improvements and repairs which have been made by this school to his Department since 1990; the status of each of these applications; the expected timescale to conclude all outstanding requests for these works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20202/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

An application has been received from the school to which the Deputy refers for additional accommodation and refurbishment works. This application is under examination in the context of overall primary school provision in the area. To progress the matter, a report has been requested from the school inspector. When the inspector's report has been received and analysed, a decision in relation to the school's application will be conveyed to the school management authority. However, the implementation of any works deemed necessary will be dependent on the financial allocation for 2004 and subsequent years and the competing priorities for this funding by reference to the published criteria for the prioritisation of large-scale projects.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

539 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the outcome of his visit of 31 July 2003 to Beneavin de la Salle college, Dublin 11; his views on whether this school desperately needs its long promised refurbishment; and when final approvals are likely to be forthcoming. [20214/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

It is proposed to provide an extension and carry out refurbishment works at Beneavin de la Salle college, Dublin 11. The project will be phased in two parts. Phase 1 involves the provision of an extension and refurbishment works to the existing building. This phase is at an advanced stage of architectural planning and is included in section 6 of the 2003 school building programme. The project has been assigned a band 2 rating by my Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising large-scale projects. Phase 2 of the project has not yet commenced architectural planning. It is not proposed to allow new projects to commence architectural planning in the current year.

The timing of when these projects 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.

Questions Nos. 540 and 541 answered with Question No. 521.