Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2004
231 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 672 of 30 September 2003, if his Department will approve funding for Gaelscoil Longfort, County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3563/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraGaelscoil an Longfoirt, County Longford, is currently operating from rented temporary accommodation. The cost of the accommodation is €32,760 per annum. My Department provides 95% of the rental cost in grant aid. Any additional accommodation requirements at the school will be addressed on an incremental basis as the school develops. The school will be similarly supported with rental grant aid for any such accommodation.
The 2004 school building programme has now been published and full details in relation to individual projects are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. On the basis of the funding allocation and the competing priorities for that funding, it was not possible to include Gaelscoil an Longfoirt in the 2004 building programme.
However, a key strategy for building projects going forward will be grounded on the budget day announcement of multi-annual allocations for capital investment in education projects. All projects that are not going to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme will be re-evaluated with a view to including them as part of a multi-annual building programme from 2005 onwards.
I expect to be in a position to make a further announcement on this matter during 2004.
