Vol. 573 No. 1
182 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science when his Department will make a decision on a building project for St. Killian's national school in Castleview, Tallaght, Dublin 24; if he expects these schools to advance to the construction stage in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24445/03]
The large-scale building project for St. Killian's national school in Castleview, Tallaght, Dublin 24, is listed in section 6 of the 2003 school building programme which is published on my Department's website at www.education.ie. This project is at stage 4-5 of architectural planning, pre-tender documents. It has been assigned a band 3 rating by my Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising large-scale projects. Projects listed in section 6 will not be authorised to progress beyond their current stage of architectural planning at this time. Budgetary provisions in 2004 and subsequent years will determine the rate of progression to tender and construction of these projects in conjunction with the band rating individually assigned. In the meantime, individual schools should use their devolved grants to deal with any urgent health and safety works.
183 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the total number of primary schools in the Dublin area which currently have a band 1 or band 2 rating assigned by his Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising large-scale school projects; the total number of projects advanced in the Dublin area for 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24446/03]
The band ratings assigned to large-scale projects at various stages of architectural planning are set out in the 2003 school building programme, which is published on my Department's website at www.education.ie. No projects in the Dublin area were included in the list of 12 large-scale projects for proceeding to construction in 2003.
184 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the meetings which have taken place to date between officials of his Department and officials of the planning department in South Dublin County Council concerning the possible acquisition of a new site for a new school or schools in the Fortunestown area of west Tallaght; when he will be in a position to make a decision concerning the future educational needs of children from this new housing development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24447/03]
Arising from a meeting between officials of the school planning section of my Department and the planning department of South Dublin County Council, a site for primary school purposes has been reserved at Fortunestown in west Tallaght. A decision on the provision of a new school in this area will involve further consultations with the local authority regarding the rate and likely timescale of housing developments, together with an ongoing assess ment of the capacity of existing schools in the area to meet the anticipated demand.
