Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 1

Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

283 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the extreme pressure on space in St. Buite's national school, Tenure, County Louth, and on the need for an additional classroom; his views on whether it is acceptable for his Department to suggest that the assembly hall in this school should be converted into a classroom; if funds will be made available for a temporary classroom; and when funds will be available for an extension. [26208/03]

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

My Department has not received an application for additional accommodation from St. Buite's national school, Tenure, County Louth. In the event of such an application being received, the matter will be considered in the context of the capital allocation for 2004 and subsequent years and the competing priorities for that funding.

With regard to the possible use of a general purpose room for mainstream classroom purposes, in light of budgetary constraints in 2003 a decision was taken that additional classroom facilities would not be provided where other accommodation, such as a general purpose room, was available to meet a school's need on a short-term basis. This position will be reviewed for the 2004 capital programme.